LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Safe |
by Sal Seeley |
SailingSink or Swim?
Everybody in Rehoboth beach knows that I'm a little unconventional. That may be the biggest understatement I have ever made in print. It's true. I have fetishes. Wrestling isn't the only one. I have this thing for uniforms too. I love uniforms, especially military ones. Last spring, I was in Berlin with a friend and we went into a second hand uniform shop. Woof. Woof. Woof. If I had been able to find a German Sailor's uniform that fit my broad shoulders, I would have bought several of them. Man, those German guys look so handsome in those uniforms. I hear they look just as good out of them as well. No matter if you are buffed, burly, hairy or smooth, tall or short, those uniforms make you look your best. You know those sailors have to know what they're doing. Whether piloting a small private craft or a big destroyer, they have to realize that they are out there in the big bad ocean and it can get pretty rough. Safety and knowledge and a lot of persistence are what get them from shore to shore. We can all learn a great deal from these guys! Like sailors we have to remember to keep safety in mind at all times and be prepared for whatever comes our way. That's especially true when navigating the uncharted waters of sexuality and relationships. Some good friends just spent a fortune on a new sailboat. They are already spending a lot of time keeping it in top notch shape. They scrape, paint, scrub, and fuss over it all the time. Their mortgage on that boat is so big that it is considered a second home. They spend all of that time trying to make the boat look its best and preserve it as long as possible. It has all the latest navigation equipment, satellite service and the works. They go sailing almost every weekend. Although few of us have the time or money for a sailboat, we all have something that we value even moreour own bodies and good health! Our bodies are more important than any sailboat. We worry about what we eat, spend hours in the gym, and generally make sure we are in top notch shape. Why then is it so easy for us to forget to be careful in all aspects of our lives? This year's CAMPsafe ad campaign is focused on different sporting events, and if you look at the new postcards placed around town or at the ad in this issue you will see that they contain a sailing theme. The cards remind us all that we should always play under the proper conditions. You shouldn't go sailing without the proper safety equipmentand you shoudn't have sex without the proper equipment either. That means wearing a condom at all times and taking the time to talk to and learn about your "sailing" partners. If you have questions or are not sure about playing safe, perhaps you should attend Sal's Safe Sex Sailing School. I am available to answer your questions or just to make sure that you have all the equipment you need to handle "rough seas" or whatever comes your way. Stop by CAMP Rehoboth or look for me in the bars or on the beach or online. In all that you do, play safe. Be a winner. CAMPsafe is still looking for some part-time outreach help. Hours are flexible and pay is good. Contact Sal at 302-227-5620 for more information. Sal Seeley is Program Director of CAMPsafe, an HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention program funded through a contract with the Delaware Division of Public Health. Free, anonymous HIV testing is offered at CAMP Rehoboth, 39 Baltimore Avenue. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Sal Seeley at 302-227-5620 or e-mail salvatoreseeley@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 14, No. 9 July 16, 2004 |