I have no children, and occasionally regret my decision not to have any. There were a few years when I could have been easily persuaded, but wasn’t. I did help raise a wonderful boy for about nine years, but his Mom was/is a great Mom. I think I just spiced things up a little.

I live on the coast, where the giant redwoods grow. I listen to the ocean roar all day and all night (unless I’m at work or otherwise locked up somewhere). I love it here. I’m living where I want. I actually came back here after 15 years in Alaska, which was great in many ways, but this is perfect. Shortly after I got here in 1980, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “ho-hum, another day in paradise.”

I’ve been married twice, both times as a result of poor judgement. The first marriage was very short, and the second one was a tough go. I have had a couple of girlfriends I should have married, but I was too unsettled at the time. I went to Alaska, for example. Now I’m back where I want to live, and wondering why I am alone. Duh.

I love to get outdoors and hike, bike, camp, fish, swim in rivers, lakes or oceans. I love rowing boats or just being on the water. I love the Pacific Northwest and like to travel. I go from as far south as San Francisco all the way up to Seattle. I love the movies and documentaries and good video. I have a camera and editing equipment, and am making television shows, and a documentary of my own.

I’m kind of serious, I guess. I find it difficult to laugh it up with strangers, especially women. There was a time when I was so painfully shy around women I could not even talk when one was present. That was back in high school. As a result, I don’t have fond memories of those years. I enjoy serious conversations, but love to laugh. Especially uproariously at absurd, pointed, clever, witty,or any other kind of fun humor. I don’t care for mean humor.

I am a mental health worker with a Master’s degree. I earned it at a late age. After dribbling my way through 20 years of college, a semester here, a semester there, I got serious about it up in Alaska and powered through. I started out in English Lit in a program that emphasized women writers, but switched to social work at the last minute. I ran out of things to say about DH Lawrence one semester, and couldn’t get started again. I would like to meet a smart, funny, woman who has a love for people. I like women who are strong in some way. Earnestness, innocence (is it possible to have any left at 56?) with a dash of naivete would be nice. I hope I could offer the same.

I am not religious, but I am spiritual. I have some liberal views, but I am a political pragmatist. I think we better start doing what works, or this country and the earth will be a lot less pleasant places to stay in a few more years.

I'm working a day job to make my own opportunities. I try to spend my money on things that I can make money with, but I am continually distracted by opportunities for fun. Today, for instance, I intend to go for a bike ride, when I also have editing work that needs to be done. Meanwhile, of course, I am writing this profile. Oh well. All are good investments I hope.

Last night I parked my truck in the backyard, and slept in back in my sleeping bag. Now that's camping on a budget!

I wish I had a partner to share work, fun and life with. My brother and his family are far, far away. My Mom is local, and still very independent.

I'm good at listening to people. I'm good with young kids. I'm good at photography and making video. I'm a good writer, but not disciplined enough to make a go of it as a creative writer. I'm good at my job, but not brilliant.

I'm good at taking care of a woman (I hope you'll let me know if you disagree :) I'm good at making coffee. I have some woodworking skills and can make a piece of furniture if it's not too complicated.

My calm demeanor and my willingness to listen. That's what I've heard anyway.

I used to read a lot more. I recently read Wallace Stegner's Crossing to Safety, and almost all of Angle of Repose. I preferred the first. I thought it was great actually. I started Patricia Highsmith's, The Talented Mr. Ripley. I put it down, and now I can't find it. I got to the part where Tom killed his friend out in the boat. I have also set aside Kafka's the Trial, but look forward to picking it up again. I am surprised by the character of Josef. Why isn't he more likable?

Movies. I love watching movies. I like big budget dramas. I really liked the new Star Trek, especially after the introductions of Kirk and Spock were done, and the movie got started. I loved the Christian Bale Batman movies, the second one, with Heath Ledger the best. I didn't care quite so much for the most recent Terminator or for Benjamin Button. Doubt, with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman was great, I thought. I loved it when Meryl Streep was running around her office brandishing that light bulb changer like pitchfork. A little over the top maybe? Yeah, but hilarious. Oh so many others... Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Fried Green Tomatoes, Dr. Strangelove, Waking Ned Devine, on and on.

Food. My trouble is staying away from food, or at least only eating the good stuff. I love to barbecue. I have a favorite little Mexican restaurant here in town. Very unpretentious to say the least, but good food and a very nice family that runs it. I guess I like to eat, but am not very selective. I could use some help in that department.

I like documentaries too. Why we Fight, Taxi to the Darkside. I like NOVA and Frontline (You can watch that online!).

Love. I need love in my life. Love is something other than dependence, which is something I have been willing to think of as love in the past. I have stayed in a relationship because I didn't want to be alone. I don't think I am happier alone than in a relationship based on emotional dependency, but at least I am open and available for love. I think a loving relationship will always have some dependency in it, but it is certainly not the primary glue. Now if I remain open, unable to find love, then I will look from the other side, and think, "Well, maybe that wasn't so smart after all." I do know a love of people too, and that is sustaining. Sometimes I think of God as the love that all people have for all other people and things, but especially other people. I wonder if that is what the phrase, "God is love" means.

Hope. My life in paradise would be boring if I didn't always need and want more--hope has to be there. Right now, I am profoundly unsatisfied. I look around and see intact families and all the love that they produce for each other, and I'm sorry I don't have it. My brother and his family are still up in Alaska, and I don't get up there much. He rarely comes down here. If I didn't have hope that I will find more love in this life, I don't think it would be worth going on. Fortunately, hope is a good friend. It is always there for me.

Water.
You can probably see from the first part of my profile that water is a big deal for me. I love to be in it, on it, looking at it or listening to it. Sometimes I feel guilty when I have to drink it. Just kidding about that part; I love to drink it too :)

Family.
Needless to say...

Humor. What I love about humor is primarily the laughter. Like music, it can make all things tolerable. You just gotta be able to get to it. It's even more portable and handy than music though. The other day I saw a picture that a co-worker has posted up at her workstation. It is cut out of a magazine, and is of two old people, maybe in their eighties. They are sitting next to each other in old rocking chairs on an old, broken down porch. He is looking into her eyes, and both are laughing with glee. I don't care how comfortable or rich or glamorous someone might be; they would have to envy what that old couple is sharing.

The other thing about humor is it's ability to say complex things simply, like poetry (which I have a hard time with). I am thinking especially of political cartoons. Political humor is what got me through a certain recent presidency that shall go unnamed for now.

The Coast.
Not only is there water all over the place, it is the edge. If I could get closer I would. I heard once that people seeking something move West until they can't go any further. Then they go North. That's what I did. All the way to Barrow. I guess I didn't find what I was looking for and figured that if it wasn't in Barrow, I may as well be as comfortable as possible while I wait for it. Thus, I am here on the Northern CA coast, in a beautiful, rural, wild area; hoping to find what I need.

Politics, current events, social justice, film making, what it will be like after this life, travel, camping and adventures. Oh yes, and finding a good woman.

Partying like mad with my computer. Care to join us?

That would ruin the surprise. Not only that, then it wouldn't be private any more.

Hey! Why am I branded as less desiring of sex?!! I'd better take some more tests to make that less noticeable!

You would like me to write back. I would be quite happy to get your message.