Category Archives: leather lifestyle

Leaving Recon

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I’ve had a profile on recon.com since 2005, mostly to protect the use of my screen name, Booted Harleydude.

I never used it to find other men or arrange hook-ups or dates. I had been happily married (or partnered) since 1993 and always remained monogamous.

Other than preserving my screen name, I do not really know why I kept my profile on recon.com.

After receiving another delinquency notice for not logging on for months, I visited the site to check in on June 10, 2026.

I was appalled at the redesign. It is absolutely awful. It is not intuitive and what’s worse for me, is that when I logged on, it demanded to know my location so it could match me with other men.

No! I don’t want that.

Without much regret, I will delete my profile in about a month so the few friends I have connected with there may see my notice that I intend to drop off Recon and find me another way (I prefer old-fashioned email since I don’t text).

Why do kids these days have to do such intense redesigns? What wasn’t broken didn’t need fixing.

Old senior leathermen have little patience for that crap. Plus, I live in Canada about a half-year, so I have a different life now. Time to move on from my past.

Re-Engagement with this blog

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I took a long break from updating this blog. Sorry about that… I ran out of new things to say. The content about my life as a confident gay man remains pretty much evergreen.

I appreciate that some men have told me that they have found the years of content on this blog helpful, interesting, and guiding to their own lives. That means a lot to me!

Also since the chaos that has befallen the once-united states, I have “cut the cord” and no longer engage much on the web or watch television. (Also, I still refuse to have a smartphone, so I am even more disconnected than the average guy.)

So what’s new?
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My Authentic Leather Self

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I received a message recently from someone who told me that he and a family member have been following this blog for a long time, and said,

I wanted to reach out to let you know how much I appreciate your blog and the way you embrace and celebrate leather culture. Your passion for wearing leather with pride and purpose has been truly inspiring to me.

I am grateful for the way your writing has helped us bond and discuss various topics related to kink, fetish and leather in a more open and understanding way.

Thank you for the work you do and for being such a positive role model. It means a lot to both of us.

Wow… I honestly had no idea of the impact this lil’ ol’ blog could have. While I do not think of myself as a typical example of a gay Leatherman, I guess I have shared enough about my fetish interests that it has had some impact.

I titled this post “my authentic leather self” to describe how I have evolved to…
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Leather Weather 2024

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Finally… the intense summer heat has broken. Time to hang up the suits and get my gear on!

I had a gift certificate from Schott Bros leather that was going to expire. During the hottest week of July, I ordered a new Schott Leather Trucker Jacket.

This jacket is thick, durable, and exceptionally well-made. Their marketing statement says it is lightweight enough to wear all year. No… not by a long-shot. This jacket is heavy… almost as heavy as my Schott Perfecto motorcycle jacket.

But man, it fits …
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Where The Heck Have I Been?

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I really hate letting this blog go sallow. Here it is July 2024, and the last time I posted was in April.

So where have I been?

Contrary to perceptions you may have that I have fallen off the planet, I have just been busy doing other things.

In May I traveled to Hawaii for 10 days (for an advisory committee meeting!) I just returned home after almost a month in Canada (for play!)

I do appreciate receiving messages from people who have read deep within this blog where I …
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Leather Weather

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This time of year, I am enjoying cooler weather with cool and comfortably dry, non-humid days and evenings.

Being an “old-school” leather guy from way back, I am enjoying wearing my boots and leathers again.

For more than 40 years now, I have had a regular wardrobe of good quality leather garments. I like the appearance, comfort, durability, style, and (when it is cold), warmth. Also, leather is much easier to maintain by keeping it clean and conditioned at home. (Further, by wearing leather more often, then I have much less laundry to do!)

I do not go out much, but when I do, such as grocery shopping, one may see me …
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Riding in Full Leather

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It is glorious Fall! Crisp, dry, sunny and pleasant days make for perfect motorcycle riding weather.

While I prefer to wear ballistic nylon motorcycle jackets, there are times when the “old guard” biker in me roars, “wear your leather!”

I will not argue with my Leatherman alter ego! Lately when riding for fun (not for commuting), I have worn…
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Leather Weather is Here!

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Finally… after a typical brutally hot summer, we finally saw the heat break right at the start of Autumn. This morning, it was a leather-perfect 46F (8C) at my favorite time of day… dawn.

I was waiting for this day to come for a while so I could “leather up” once again.

I am not attending any leather-oriented events, such as the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. That type of thing is far in my past.

But I still enjoy leather and with a closet-full of gear, now that it is appropriately cooler, my favorite combination of gear came on.

What’s my current favorite gear?
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