Here's the true story of some of my first homosexual experiences, specifically those involving my trips to the local steam baths:
It was the early 80s and I was in my mid 20s living in Eureka, CA. I'd heard about the Humboldt Steam Baths in downtown Eureka and it seemed to be common knowledge around town that that's where all the homos hung out. I'd never been there but, being a closeted homosexual, it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to check that place out.
Thing was, you didn't want to be seen going into a place like that. Back then, homosexuality wasn't nearly as accepted as it is now. But, when I'd get to drinking, I'd often start thinking about the Steam Baths. I really had an itch to go there and see what they were all about. One early summer evening I'd drank just enough to get the homo in me going and lose the inhibition to head down there.
The first thing I did, to test the waters (and try to feel a little more at ease about going there), was call them on the phone. A guy answers the phone and I find myself almost trembling I was so nervous. I didn't really know what to say so I asked, "Are there lots of guys down there?". The guy hangs up on me. I think I wanted him to say something to make me feel more comfortable with my plan but he didn't. Only thing I could do now was just drive down there.
It was still light out and I was afraid somebody might see me go inside so I parked almost a block up the street. I was super nervous but I kept telling myself I really wanted to do this so just go for it! I walked around the corner to the front of the place, took a deep breath and went through the front door.
The front room in the place was a lounge/ bar and it was PACKED! Oh shit, did I get even more nervous. I couldn't even look to my sides. I just walked straight ahead up to the bar and told the guy I wanted a steam room, paid the fee, grabbed a beer and went down the hall to my room. Whew! That was almost scary.
I started drinking my beer and jacking off wondering what the point was in coming down here if I was jacking off alone? I rang the room service bell and almost immediately the male attendant came in and I ordered another beer. He didn't say a thing about me laying there jacking off. When he comes back and hands me my beer I said, "Feel free to help finish me off if you want". He bent over, put his lips around my cock and sucked me off to completion. I thanked him and he left the room. I dressed and left.
I went to my car as fast as I could, still not looking at any of the people in the front lounge as I left. I think I was nervous the whole night, even after getting home. I was so afraid someone might have seen me.
Next morning, as would be the case with so many of my homosexual encounters back then, I almost felt ashamed of what I'd done. Wondering if anybody saw me going into the place and, besides, I shouldn't be fagging off, anyway. I'm supposed to be finding a girl, getting married and having kids. What was I thinking last night? But those feelings didn't stop me for long.
After that, every time I'd get to drinking a bit, I'd start thinking about the Steam Baths. It wasn't long after that first visit I gathered up the courage to go there again but, this time I told myself, I'll at least try to mingle with the crowd and hopefully establish a few relationships. I decided to try and find a seat at the bar.
I felt just as nervous as the last time as I parked the car and scurried around the corner to the front door. It felt just like the last time walking in there and I was again too nervous to look at all the guys in the room. I just walked straight up to the bar and grabbed a seat between two not bad looking guys. I ordered a beer and we shared some small talk. One guy had hair almost to his shoulders and a short beard. I finally told him I was going to rent a steam room and, if he wanted, he could share it with me. He followed me to the room.
