Thanks, everyone! This is a small town, and the loan officer at the local credit union did seem to think that national banks might be more lenient? Of course, the credit union's fees are much lower than the banks I've tentatively looked at, and I had wanted to work with them because that's who I've gotten loans from in the past, always paid on time. :( Bill: The loan officer's fees were separate from the closing costs, in addition to them, and labeled as loan officer's fees. All the usual fees were also listed. The problem with living in a small town is there is not a lot of competition around, so fees are hiked up for EVERYTHING just because they can be. This county, incidentally, frequently has the highest price of gas in the continental U.S. It's just like that for everything - but it is a gorgeous place, very mild climate, surrounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean and pristine forests on the other, so people get really attached to this place despite the hassle. The credit history thing is really frustrating. I've even paid rent that was higher than the cost of this mortgage at the credit union (if I had qualified by being in business a few months longer). I have a phone appointment w/ Bank of America today - I'll see how that goes...(We don't even have a local loan officer for B of A, apparently)...

I am a male, 58, and never been married with no kids. I had always wanted to be married or at least have a relationship. I came close a couple of times. The first one was when I was young. I met her when I was 16. At 21, she proposed to me and I turned it down. I felt like I was too young to get married and our relationship was an "on-again and off-again" type thing. I regretted it for some years later. I loved her a whole lot. About 20 years ago a woman asked me to marry her. I didn't want to because I was not in love with her. I liked her as a friend and that was it. She loved me; so she said. I turned her down and we split as friends. I never regretted not marrying her. And now it's been so long since I've had someone. The prospects for me to have someone does not look good at all. So I have resigned myself to the point that I will never get married. For now, I think that's OK. I feel a lot more content at knowing that I will never get married; or even have a relationship. I had a possibility of a relationship (and possibly marriage) recently. She was a Chinese woman who was 60 years old. She had been married and divorced twice. She's living with her daughter. I did not feel attracted to her and I didn't like her that much. She seemed to have wanted to marry me. She couldn't speak English. I just lost patience with that. Recently I had prostate cancer surgery. I have recovered very well (PRAISE GOD!). But I feel like it has taken away my ability to get aroused; and among other things that go with the post-surgery (if you get my drift!).

My first thought is that you might be able to Skype the ceremony. If your friends and family were to gather together back home, they could be part of it that way. They could even celebrate with wedding cake and what-not, maybe with the most honored back-home guest cutting it on your behalf.

Haha, I don't know why, but I saw the heading of this thread on the summary page and instantly thought the content might be related to the recent news item concerning same-sex marriages. Male "dancers" of any kind, also male skaters, who are hetero don't seem to be in the majority as regards sexual orientation. Not that it matters.