Hobby and I were in Palm Springs to close his villa for the season. Actually, his housekeeper and yardman had just about everything squared away by the time we got there. “Mister Hobby, could I make lunch for you and Mister Joe?” Connie asked.
 
“No thanks, we’ll go downtown for lunch; Mister Joe is going to treat me.”
 
The Kaiser Grille’s hanger steak salad is to die for and just enough for lunch. We were wallowing in it when Hobby asked, “What’s your suggestion for Lazybun’s maiden voyage? Have you forgotten I assigned you the task?”
 
“No, Sir, Capitano Hobby. The parameters were: one month’s duration, to somewhere we haven’t been before, and a place we could have fun and play poker. After careful study and deep cogitation, the answer is obvious … the French Riviera.”
 
“Give me five, Joe,” Hobby said. “That’s what I was thinking, but I wanted to see what you might come up with. I’ve already talked to Mike and Pablo. They’ll get another hand and that will be enough crew. Pablo’s wife will do the housekeeping. I wonder if we can get Patsy Fortuno to chef for us again?”
 
“I’m sure we can. I saw him last week and he said he’d love to get out of his wife’s hair. Since Kim’s retired she’s good to go, but she’d like to fly over and sail back. I didn’t tell her where we might go, but if she knew it was the Riviera and I’d buy the air ticket, there’d be no holding her back. What about Sue?”
 
“I’m certain she’d join us in France, but I’m not sure if she’ll have time to sail back. But either way it’ll work. I think we’ve got a plan, Joe,” which we sealed with another high-five.
 
“The question is when, Hobby?”
 
“I told my crew about the end of May. Will that work for you and Kim?”
 
“Sure, what do we have to do in the meantime?”
 
“I’ve got to order a set of charts to plot the course. You can help me review the provisions we’ll need to take aboard. There’s some paperwork for the canal and we’ve also got to make sure everyone’s passports are in order. Mike and Pablo will give Lazybuns a shakedown and take care of any maintenance needed, and that’s about it.”
 
“Any other passengers?”
 
“Yes, I want to invite a couple poker guys for company. How would you feel about Hank and Barry?”
 
“Wow! That’s a surprise. They’re fun to be around and good poker players. I think they’d be great.”
 
“It doesn’t bother you that they’re gay?”
 
“Hell, no. I’m all for it.”
 
“Great, I’ll give them a call,” Hobby said as he took out his cell phone and punched a speed dial number. “Barry, this is Hobby. Remember I mentioned going cruising on my new Lazybuns. Yeah, we’re going to the Riviera… do you and Hank want to join us?”
 
I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but soon Hobby said, “Come over about five and we’ll get into the details.”
 
The happy twosome showed up just as Hobby finished making a batch of his famous margaritas. “A toast,” Hobby declared, “to the Riviera.” We sipped the perfect libation, licked salt from our lips, and gushed our heartfelt confirmations.
 
It was Hobby’s show and he did a great job describing Lazybuns to Hank and Barry, who had never even seen its predecessor, and then outlined our voyage. “Who else will be going?” Barry asked.
 
“Our first mate Mike, second mate Pablo, another mate to be hired, Carla, Pablo’s wife is our housekeeper, and hopefully Patsy Fortuna, a great chef who sailed with us before … and our lady friends who will meet us there.”
 
I chimed in, “That’s my Kim and Hobby’s Sue. They’ll fly to France once we get there.”
 
“Paris?” Hank asked.
 
“They may have to change planes there to fly to the Nice Cōte d’Azur Airport.”
 
“What’s Cōte d’Azur, Joe? I’ve heard that before.”
 
“Well, I’m sure you’ll hear it more often when we get there. It’s what the French and other Europeans call the French Riviera.”
 
Hobby chuckled and said, “Isn’t just like the French to have some weird name.”
 
“Hobby, on a more serious note, Barry and I were talking about the cost of this trip and want you to know we’re willing to pay our share.”
 
“I appreciate that, but you are my invited guests. Forget about the cost.”
 
“We know it will cost you a bundle for such a long cruise and we insist on sharing. We brought two checks for $10,000 each, which is probably a lot less than what we pay for a month’s cruise and we must insist we pay or we can’t go.”
 
“Come on guys, I really appreciate your willingness to contribute, but I want to do this.”
 
I could see from Hank and Barry’s expressions they were very uncomfortable accepting such generosity, so I thought I’d try to ameliorate the situation.
 
“Hobby, I want to kick in another $10,000 too, but I know you won’t accept it, so here’s what I suggest. Let’s put the $30,000 into a kitty and use it to fund our gambling. Whatever the outcome, we’ll share the proceeds.”
 
Hobby was silent for a while and then said, “I like it, but I’m going to kick in another 10 for our Riviera kitty.”
 
Write to author David Valley at: dvalley1@san.rr.com

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