Open doors and Champagne
Our minds still full and buzzing from the George Stoll encounter, at dusk we entered a whole new realm of goodness. The three of us went to visit a gent who has graciously offered his home/manor for Get Hubbied. I will keep this fellow's name private for now, but suffice it to say, the spirit in which he opened his arms to the idea was an unexpected pleasure (shock). I will quote parts of his immediate response to my first gentle pitch and description of Jon and Liz:
...They're fabulous...I'm happy you asked. let's just figure out how to make it work, and then we will! When? How many people? Inside/outside/both? We'll find a way, dontcha think?
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoo and so on
Gobsmacked. I'm not used to people saying yes so easily, or saying yes at all. I felt giddy but got down to business and asked relevant questions about how he has entertained, how many people could comfortably be seated in the garden, what was off limits and such and such. After he said yes to 99% of everything, we were given champagne, lounged in his living room surrounded by a stellar art collection, books and neatly organized curiosities, and had a spirited talk. He actually invited us to smoke! There is an ashtray in arms reach of every chair in the room. I smoked a cigarette entirely due to the opportunity to be decadent. He is a wonder. Jon and Liz and he got along well. At no moment did I feel any social panic, and this situation would be ripe for that, but this is him - and everything is relaxed and positive.
Liz, Jon and I will put our heads together for a while and will visit some other places before lovingly locking anyone into this venture. The only con I see at Mr. X's home is that it may be hard to have a sit down dinner for 180 people (our flexible projected number of guests), since the pool is central to the back yard and the interior is filled with precious things. I would feel incredibly responsible for even a slight dimple in his world - it would be terrifying to have anything happen to anything in that home. So, that is a second con. Food for thought, but I went home feeling increased love for humans.
*this is not Mr. X's house:
