Free GAY REALITY : THE TEAM GUIDO STORY by John Chaffetz

to have my partner right there. And sex was available, whereas it wasn’t for some of the others.
    “About the only thing that gets to me about Bill is money. I’ve got money. He doesn’t. He’s always been a spender; not me, I’m a saver. Thank God he’s getting more like me. So, we don’t share money or property. We’re each other’s beneficiary for property, but that’s it.
    “Sometimes Bill lets his emotions run wild. It happened a couple of times during the Race, but I got carried away too because I was obsessed with not being eliminated.
    “Bill used to scoff at my spiritual beliefs, but he’s tolerant now. He has his own way of meditation and I only pray in times of crisis. But we both kind of melded on my way during the Race. We really called on it.
    “I totally believe that friends, relatives and others ‘helped’ us from the spirit side during the Race. I actually called on them, I know who they are, and it worked!”

BILL—THE MAGIC  
    ONE MORNING I drive to Bill’s office in Laguna Beach. He escorts me to a small meeting room adjacent to his own space. As usual, he has just stepped out of GQ and I realize that on only two occasions have I ever been with Bill when he has not been wearing a tie. Conversely, I have never seen Joe wearing one, but then again I don’t wear them either.
    “Please tell me what you and Joe are all about, not just on the Race, but in the real world.”
    “Well, first the Race. Joe was our strength in all of those airports. The airlines, routing, ticketing. I did the physical things a bit better, and languages. Best of all we could decide on things instantly. That even surprised the crew.
    “In fact some of the crew even told us that we weren’t like some, or most of the other contestants. We were always concentrating on the Race and winning it, while others were ornery, sleeping, et cetera.”
    “Bill, what bugs you about Joe?”, I ask. With not a moment’s hesitation he responds.
    “Well, during the Race, just like it happens in real life, there are some times when we argue. So we planned ahead for that. Whenever he, or I for that matter, would be too argumentative, the other person would say out loud, ‘Enough said.’ And there are times when Joe just won’t stop talking. So whenever he started to ramble I would very discretely, so the camera wouldn’t pick up on it, simply ‘draw’ a small circle on his pant leg. That tactic really worked well. And, once again, a few crew members actually said that they were going to institute it with their partners when they got back home.”
    “It certainly seems apparent that you and Joe do have a very special bond.”
    “We think so. Since the Race we’ve had lots of e-mails from wives who really appreciate our relationship with each other. Men would never comment on that, but women do.”
    “And the magic?”
    “Joe and I have always been very independent, but we also compliment each other so well. We’ve made it through a four year long distance separation, we’ve lived in a foreign country together and we finished The Amazing Race without any significant disagreement whatsoever. We seem to have a common purpose in life.”
    “But it must take effort to make it work.”
    “Joe’s more of the type to hold a grudge and internalize, but any disagreement, and we occasionally have one, never lasts more than 24 hours—ever. We talk it out right away. Nine times out of ten, when you’re in the heat of the battle, things seem so important, but they’re really not. We’re both really competitive, and it’s hard to say to another person that he’s right—but you have to! And Joe and I do.
    “Life is too short. If you have someone who you love and enjoy, and I have that, why screw it up? I’ve lost too many friends along the way to not cherish and hold dear what I’ve got.
    “On the way to the very first interview for the Race, I told Joe that it was important to me, if we got selected, that he