By Teeebone and Brian
In the summer of 2002, the “Wet Spot” put together a weekend camping event and fundraiser that was held off-site at the Longhouse. It was called “Wet Spot in Paradise: The Gathering of the Tribes,” though in the future the name would be shortened to just Paradise. This event gave rise to a new party that was created the next year, debuting on June 15, 2003, the aptly named “Paradise Pool Party,” a clothing-optional swim party to be held on the third Sunday of the month.
The publicity post on the original Wet Spot website went something like this: “Those of you who attended the Wet Spot in Paradise event last Labor Day weekend remember the wonderful pool. Warm and inviting, with a great hot tub beside it to soak in. Well, starting this month, the Wet Spot will be hosting a pool party at the Longhouse on the third Sunday of the month. We'll supply pop, juice, and some snacks, you supply your own towels. While it's clothing optional, we hope that there is very little clothing in the pool. (There will also be a social area and a few areas for private and group play — sex and light BDSM play will be allowed in most of these areas).”
The party ran from 12pm to 6pm and admission was $10. Another thing that should be mentioned is that the pool was indoors, meaning that the weather wouldn’t be so much of a factor after the summer. As time went by, the event became a potluck as there was a grill on-site for barbecuing available. By 2010, the Pool Party would see increasing attendance and a change in leadership, which brings us to the interview part of this article with Brian, who acted as Host and EC to this event from then until its cancellation.
Q: When did you first attend the Pool Party?
A: I first attended the Pool Party in June 2004.
Q: What was your experience at your first Pool Party like?
A: It was a bit awkward at first because I had never been naked at a CSPC event before. When no one said a word after I stripped down, I knew that I was in a safe place! In addition, I met someone who would become a play partner.
Q: How often did you attend?
A: As often as I could get a ride out. Coloboma prevented me from driving but later on I was able to get out as far as a park and ride in Redmond and then a taxi cab from there to the Longhouse, then back to the park and ride. The arrival of Lyft and Uber made this easier.
Q: When did you become the Pool Party EC/Host?
A: I became the pool party event coordinator in January 2010 after the previous EC decided to step down. I had built up a good relationship with the Longhouse residents over a six-year period and it was a big help to the success of my tenure.
Q: Were there any changes to the Pool Party during your tenure?
A: The biggest change that I made was expanding the staff of the event. Up until my tenure, there was only one person acting as EC, cashier, and monitor. If I had to leave my post (a desk inside the pool room), I would have to carry the cash box with me. This made it difficult to properly ensure the safety of the event. I was the only one doing setup and strike, but I would have some of our guests offer to help and it was greatly accepted!
I expanded the staff to include a cashier, monitor, and split the EC shift into two. This was a six-hour event, so each shift was three hours in duration so our volunteers could have some pool time. I eventually had two cashier and monitor shifts of the same three-hour length. I did have a setup and strike crew but that varied every month. This made for a better run event, especially for the safety of our guests. Our turnout during the summer grew dramatically after I started heavy promotion on the CSPC FetLife groups and we had our own dedicated pool party group on FetLife.
Q: Were there any instances of the Pool Party that stand out as “Best Party Ever!”
A: We were named Party of the Month in November 2013, if that’s the correct year. I made this a Thanksgiving-themed event and people brought turkey, mashed potatoes, and the typical Turkey Day desserts. I remember that people had a blast during this event, but I was happy to hear that we named Party of the Month thanks to all the positive feedback.
Q: What was the attendance of the Pool Party, typically?
A: It would average around 35–40 people outside the summer months. One summer month we had about 100 people, which was a record breaker for turnout! There was plenty of space for outdoor play at the Longhouse.
Q: Were there any special events held with this party?
A: The biggest special event that I had was an evening fire play event in March 2010. We had our regular party from noon till 6pm then from 7pm till 9pm we had fire play demos — fire whips, spinning poi, and even fire flogging! I did have themed events during some events, such as a spa and massage event where we had an LMP come out and give massages. Once we had a DJ and dancing event. But these were few and far between because it was difficult for some people to get out to the Longhouse.
The Pool Party continued its run at the Longhouse until 2015, when a breakdown in negotiations occurred between the CSPC and the Longhouse over the contract for the Paradise campout in the coming summer. Paradise was canceled in the spring, but the Pool Party was able to keep going for a while longer. On August 16, 2015, the last Pool Party was held at the Longhouse, after a long and successful run of 12 years and two months. Thanks to Brian and all the other CSPC volunteers who helped make this event happen! :^)
