Started in Barcelona (Spain) in January 2006, ‘Entre-Amigos' (Among-Friends) has had the aim of creating from scratch, a group of friends (men over 18 years of age) who enjoy or who are interested in mutual and group masturbation with other men, as well as doing all the other more ‘normal' things that a group of friends does, like going out for a drink, for a meal, going to the cinema, going on trips, etc... together.
The idea had been going round in my head and maturing for years until finally new year 2006 seemed like the right moment.
I set up the group in Yahoo Groups on 3rd January 2006, unsure of what would happen but with a clear idea of my aims, principles and what I was looking for:
Like-minded people. Guys who, like me, felt they didn't like the ‘gay scene' as it is, who were looking for something more. Some sexual contact with other like-minded guys within the framework of good, long-lasting friendship. (colloquially called ‘jack-off buddies').
After contacting and meeting the first guys interested in the group and its objectives I started to organize the first friendly jack-off parties at my home with something to eat, something to drink and good conversation, as well as group masturbation in around mid January 2006. I had expected to throw a ‘jack-off party' maybe once a month but the demand was so great we were meeting every week on Sunday evenings at 6.00pm.
By February we had become a small group of fiends and started to meet every Friday evening for dinner in a restaurant and drinks afterwards around town.
By April 2006 news of the group and its friendly alternative philosophy had spread and one of Barcelona's gay magazines: InfoGai belonging to the Gay Association ‘Col.lectiu Gai de Barcelona' asked me if I would write an article about the group and its philosophy which was published in their May-June edition.
Meanwhile, the group underwent its first big change for two reasons: on the one hand Spanish neighbours and their spying and gossiping meant that it had become rather awkward to hold the group jack off parties in an apartment. On the other, the amount of interest and number of participants meant it wasn't really feasible to continue doing so.
Different options were considered but in the end it was felt that the only way to maintain the philosophy of small private parties among friends was to rent a little premises as a ‘club house' for the group.
Working together we decorated, bought a fridge and a few bits of furniture and the parties transferred there at the end of May 2006 with our big inauguration party on 26th June. At this time the interest was so great that there were 2 parties a week on Sundays and Thursdays.
After a break for the Summer, members of the group, now friends, were making other proposals of activities like going to the cinema, theatre, concerts, exhibitions, etc. Thus expanding the group's range of activities once more.
Also, a new initiative was started with the creation of the Tuesday Morning group - for guys with family and other commitments at weekends who can only take part during the week.
New year 2007 saw a sudden increase in group membership again, participation both in the Friday night dinners and Sunday jack-off parties literally doubled. Comments were heard on the Barcelona
‘gay scene' that this was clearly the friendliest group in the city.
The good feeling in the group led to the first spontaneous jack-off sessions as, after the Friday night dinner and drinks members felt so good together that they wanted to continue on back to the group's club house to get more intimate together.
Over the year and a half many, many great friendships have been forged, and although, not the prime objective of Among-Friends, some of the members have found a partner through their participation in the group.
In all senses the experience has been positive and enriching albeit very hard work and needing lots of organisation, coordination and hours.
Since May 2007, the clubhouse is also being used for the meetings of a sub-group for men's support. Thus completing the range of activities we now organise.
But despite being based in Barcelona, Spain, Among-Friends has always had members from other cities and other countries who have been connected by means of our forum and have followed the progress of the group from a distance.
Several of them have paid us a visit and have participated in our activities on weekend visits from Madrid, Bilbao, León, Ibiza, and even Italy.
At the end of June 2007, we organised a very successful and enjoyable trip to Madrid to coincide with the Euro Pride Celebrations being held there - around 12 members from Barcelona and other parts of Spain came together.
At the time of writing there is great interest in setting up a branch of the group in Madrid and this will be an ongoing process.
Meanwhile, with the creation of our own web community in summer 2007 in English and Spanish, it is hoped to reach more like-minded guys around the world and serve as a meeting place for all of us. I hope that this new phase of Among-Friends will have the same success that the group has enjoyed so far and that the fraternal spirit of the group will catch on in other cities and other
countries.
That this will become a large community of ‘jack-off buddies' and a forum to share our experiences, meet others and enjoy our masturbation and masculinity together as real friends.