My hometown of Laura, Ohio, is quickly swelling with an influx of past inhabitants. Chief among them are my buddy Roben and his heterosexual man partner, Jeff. They moved just down the block, which now means a majority of my best friends all live along Main Street within shouting distance.

The only downside to a friend moving is the actual move itself. Those of “friend” status usually get roped into helping with the move one way or the other. For me it was a self-voluntarily action made during the immediate aftermath of my recent wedding. In retrospect, it perhaps was a poorly-timed decision made in haste during a state of jubilee and intoxication.

Nevertheless my numero uno associate, Dave Cabeen, and I arrived to Roben’s old abode last month as a steady, cold and miserable rain fell. Rain on moving day, how ... irritatingly stereotypical. Even more so for Roben and Jeff, whose indispensable incomes have allowed them to amass quite an impressive array of technological equipment.