Friends...

Many gay guys seem to bag Gaydar but tonight really reinforced to me how great Gaydar has been to me. I received a postcard from my friend Englishman In Budapest tonight when I got home. Not a big deal, but I was pretty excited. He's an English Lit teacher working for an English college in Budapest and so at the moment, is on holidays. He's been in the UK for the past 4 weeks catching up with his family and friends and so, as a consequence, our weekly Sunday night chats have not been happening. And to be honest, Sunday nights have just dragged for me since I haven't been chatting to him. It is always a highlight of my week to talk to him - we always have a laugh, he's always full of good advice, and it's just a great couple of hours spent in the company of a good friend. I met him through Gaydar last year before I went overseas. I messaged him because I thought it'd be great to meet up with someone who lives there and has a bit of local knowledge. He's now a really great friend and so upon receiving his postcard tonight, I rang him. It was so good to chat to him after having not done so for the last month - a most unexpected but fantastic bonus to my otherwise pretty dull Tuesday!

Matt, my friend from London who stayed with me last month. Met him through Gaydar...same kind of deal as EIB - I knew I was going to be in London and so I had a look at the London boys and his profile jumped out at me because he lived just around the corner from my brother Mark (and his pics were pretty damn cute). And now, he's a good friend with whom I keep in regular contact.

My great mate Evan I also first contacted via Gaydar...we met up for the first time at Mardi Gras at 3:30am outside the Gaydar tent! We now email each other pretty much on a daily basis, generally talk at least once or twice a week, and try to meet up for dinner and a chat once a week too.

There are heaps more guys that I have met through Gaydar who I would now consider friends. Yes, I haven't met Mr Right through Gaydar, but hey, I've made lots of friends. It's not the be all and end all in terms of meeting guys, but it's certainly one way to do it. You do need to keep it in perspective and be realistic in your expectations - I've certainly learned that over the past year - but if you do, it can be a great tool.