I
was out of work, using credit cards for necessities and, yes, theatre
tickets, eating out---how could I not go see "Naked Boys Singing"? On May 1 I
signed a new lease for another year on 23rd Street knowing it was too
expensive and not sure if I  would even be able to pay the following
month's rent. Things were going crazy such as my getting a letter from
Social Security that I owed them $1,395 . It's not like I was getting such a big monthly check from them but it seems I messed up between working and not getting a 'full' check from them.

On
June 16 I got a call from subsidized housing that I could move in the
following week. I went to see the apartment at The Gateway apartments
which was very small, a studio, and asked if they had anything else
available and I was shown a small bedroom apartment which was in a
corner and very dark. The lady said I could refuse 2 apartments but if I
didn't take the third I would go back to the bottom of the list. The
last apartment she showed me was in the center of a row where it got a
lot of light and overlooked grass, trees, yachts, the canal and the
million+ homes across the way. I immediately said, "Yes!" I was told to
come back on Friday to sign all the rent papers and then I could start
moving in. I was in a quandary because I had just signed the new lease
at my old place and here I was going to break it. I didn't know if the
landlord would pursue me for the other 11 months but I had to take the
Gateway place plus I wanted to.  June 25  I signed the lease and, with Gino's help, started moving in that day, a  Friday. Without a job, no
income, and the rent based on what you made I really got a good deal.
(Now 13 years later I still have a good deal!) By the end of the month I
was moved in. I did have to leave some things behind like 2 of the 3 seven foot
couches that were made to order for me in Memphis as this living room
could only handle one. Hanging up book shelves were out of the question
so they were left behind though I did take the books, VHS tapes and CDs that stayed in boxes for a long time. Nancy and Doug were in town and,
aside from Gino, they were the first ones to see my new place. We went
out to Macaroni's Grill to celebrate.

The
month of July was spent buying things, like new drapes, for my new
apartment and I, also, bought a new computer. It was the first time Gino
got a full size door for me to use as a computer table and not only do I
still have that door which I now keep plants on but I also have another
door as my current table! Gino did most of the hanging up of pictures
while I did the 'hard work' of donating a load of books to the library
they had on the premises. Along with the library they had a
beauty/barber shop, laundry rooms, a huge pool, a community room where
they held special events and had continuous activities not to mention
the breezeway where they held barque's plus a place for people to sit
around and throw the bull---and old people can do that!--plus have some
appetizers and a few drinks at sunset.

I
knew one gay guy who lived in the complex and he told me that out of
300 residents he knew of at least 40 were gay which made me feel
comfortable. One of the first couples I met were two guys who at that
point were together 56 years. At about the same time my ex Bill called
to tell me that he and his lover, Richard, were coming into town and we
agreed that he would call me and we would get together for lunch. A lot
was going on that month with the move because it meant calling AT&T
to get phone installed which is never fun, plus getting my driver's license
changed, putting in forms at the post office, all the many annoying
things that moving entails but I was getting it done a little at a time.

Bill,
Richard and I went to lunch at Mango's(open) on Los Olas--from my diary
on Monday, July 26, 1999, "Richard surprised me in that he was a lot
younger than Bill--or me!--but was a very nice guy. Bill paid the tab
and I left the tip--I wasn't uncomfortable and except for our past I
didn't feel anything for Bill anymore--I don't know if I will ever be
seeing him again but it felt like a closure in my life." Also in my
diary for that week is the following, "Fred who I met on line came
over--he remembered me from 32 years ago and being at my place on West
75th Street in New York! He, Gino, Manny and I went to see "Edge of 17",
then to Lone Star Steakhouse (closed) for dinner."
In
addition to my other notes I have a statement about going up to Boca Raton for a reading of my play which didn't go over too well which
didn't surprise me. Once again I wrote "I have to get a job!"  but
because my rent was so low I didn't have to panic but that would happen
soon. Meanwhile I lived in a great new place and I still had credit
cards!