Does Honest, Outdoorsy, Intelligent, Educated and wanting kids sound good? If so read on. I'm in LaBelle, Florida for a couple months. I've got a new boat, been working on it for the last 6 months, go to www jheld mysite com to see it. Just add dots between the 4 words. You can learn a lot more about me on there and email me directly. I enjoy anything outdoors. Backpacking, canoeing, and traveling are tops on the list. I've got a B.S in physics and a M.S. in Mech. Engg., A PhD is just about done, but I haven't worked on it for a long time. My latest research involved fiberglass highway bridges. My work has often won International recognition. In the past I've done work on grain dust explosions and designed gloves for the NASA space suit. I've taught engineering at the University for many years. Mostly Mechanical Engineering but now I teach one class in Electrical Engineering each spring. Most everything I've got is paid for now, so money is not a real problem. I can't say I've got lots, but enough. Time is what is always short, and I do what I can to maximize the use of my free time.

I am originally from New Jersey, but now I live on and own 20 acres near Tuttle Creek Lake. Relocation is not out of the question. I know I can be happy just about anywhere, But it would be hard to leave what I've got here, good job flexibility, great location, big lake, lots of trees, deer munching my flowers in the yard (oftentimes really good comes with some bad), wild turkeys in the woods (most of the rest of the "Turkeys" live 10 miles away in town :-), good pasture, no mortgage, and it's been home for more than a few years.

I've spent 8 months last year sailing a sailboat from Ohio to Florida, sometime soon heading to the Bahamas or the Yucatan, then maybe Maine. Right now I'm back in Kansas recharging the coffers. Strike that, I've been in LaBelle, Florida for a month working on my boats, ones ready to sell the other getting ready to cruise. Still finding time to dance on the weekends though.

I know most people don't want a long distance relationship, I'm no different, I'd love to find someone local but haven't yet. So here I am advertising on the net and here you are reading my profile. If your still reading, why not give me a shout, it can't hurt, even if all you just want to do is say "Hi." I'll say "Howdy" back at ya, you can never have too many friends. Just use my name up top change the at and dot edu. Obviously I love to travel, I could easily spend some time in your area if we find we really needed to get to know each other.

I have owned horses, have all the tack, really enjoyed riding when there's a purpose like herding or packing somewhere, but I'd much rather feed a motorcycle in the winter. :) A couple years ago I spent three months in Alaska, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking etc. Then I went back for another month in the late fall, early winter. My sister was living up there at the time, and I helped move her and her two children to Minneapolis. Traveling 4000 miles in 8 days with a 1 and a 3 year old, I learned a lot. I still want kids. I love to dance, mostly CW two step, waltz, western swing, polka, etc.), travel and enjoy life. I'm great with kids, I have none and do want some, life isn't complete without them.

When I was married I didn't have any problem staying around home and working on hobbies but now, since I can, I spend a lot of time traveling, normally on a budget, travel by car, taking along some toys like kayaks, bicycles and snowshoes. I'm to shy to walk up and say "Hi" in a grocery store to find out if it's really YOU. I enjoy museums. I own timeshares on the outer banks, NC and Orlando, Fl., that I can trade for places in Paris or Aruba. It would be great to find someone who also has the ability and mindset to join me in continued travel but I do understand that kids and responsibility can come first. I'd love to have that responsibility. I definitely want kids, adoption or a surrogate mom is a possibility, but I'm not going to do it alone, it's family that's important. I think common interest and activity level is much more important then age. You�re only as old as you feel. I don't smoke, I drink socially. I'm planning on staying young for a long time. Would you like to stay young with me?

Some people think I have far too many hobbies, they just haven't learned what's important in life. Some of the more sedate things that I enjoy include watercolor painting, photography, astronomy, books, reading, learning, winemaking, telling jokes, flower and vegetable gardening, cards and games, both physical and mental, automobile restoration and amateur radio, n0ryq. I just started playing with origami. I collect all sorts of things, am interested in just about everything. I'm very intelligent, both in a practical and intellectual sense. I really enjoy yardsales, and other bargain hunting, and love to build and fix just about anything.

Science is mostly my religion. I was brought up with church as an important part of my life. I do believe in God because science doesn't explain everything. I live by the golden rule and wish everybody else did. I do believe that church does play an important role in raising children. I just have problems with accepting organized religions and the fact that most of them are intolerant of other religions. I'd like to bicycle with packs for a month. I've done it on my motorcycle. Sailing the Caribbean would be fun, maybe even the world. How about canoeing the Erie Canal? Or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail? Or Machu Picchu? It doesn't make too much difference what I do as long as there's somebody like YOU to do it with. I'm 51, I hate to lie but the right women don't find me and having kids is too important to not lie. When I had the ad at 50 I spent all my time telling older women that I really do want kids, this cuts that down a little. Really I'm 38 with 13 years experience, (I'm like a well maintained 15 yr old Lincoln Mk7, which just happens to be what I drive, when I'm not driving one of my sports cars or Pickups, economical, sporty, and stylish in a classy package.) Normally wear jeans and a western shirt, cowboy or hiking boots. They tell me I have great eyes (blue); there's lots of feeling in them. My wants and activity put me right in the mid 30�s; I'm stuck there (not a bad thing) till I find someone to enjoy kids and the rest of our life with. I believe in friends first, that's important.

I was married for 9 years, now divorced for 14. My ex is still a good friend, always was. We had different opinions when it came to money, she didn't want kids, she decided to give me another chance. We were more like brother and sister instead of husband and wife. Humor is important, Non smoking is a must; it goes with caring for yourself first. I believe in forgiveness, life is too short to waste it being mad. I'm one of the most honest people you'll ever meet, and I expect honesty from my partner (you can lie about surprise parties and such). It's the only way to build any relationship. It's probably why I'm still friends with just about every woman I've ever dated. --- Jon Held jheld MTBKPKR

I'm enjoying it, but I'd like to enjoy it with family.

Your probably thinking "If he's so great why's he still single?" Good question, wish I could answer it myself. I think I needed the internet 10 years ago. The few that I met were in their mid 30's with kids and wanted nothing to do with a relationship until they got the kids grown. They'd been hurt by the liars a couple times and had given up till they could devote more time to the selection process.

Have a great day, SMILE, it is contagious, someone will catch it.

"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because, we stop playing." Can you come out and play ? I ENJOY life, Could you make it WE? mtbkpkr

Just about everything I want to be good at, Except maybe finding that special someone, that's tough to do, but I'm working on it, hoping to get good at it.

My smile and my eyes.

Don't try to have favorites, I try to enjoy all things. "The Man from Snowy River" was a good one. I normally listen to old country if given a choice. I tell people I'm on see food diet, if I SEE it, I eat it. German is good, Pizza, fish, salad bar, even yogurt. Sushi doesn't excite me though.

I'm assuming we are not talking about the obvious, air, water, food, etc. Things are inanimate objects so no people or pets. Never is a very strong word, I can and have at times did without just about everything. I'll add desire, I think that's what they want, never desire to do without.

OK then, that said here we go in order of importance:

My library of books, (if just one an encyclopedia type reference on survival, nature, edible plants and animals)

Maps

Hiking and camping equipment (a good knife being most important to make survival easy)

A 2 qt stainless cooking pot (this one item would probably make the most difference in easy survival)

A computer with internet searches and email, (assuming there are other computers to connect with, the connections with other data storage and people are the important things)

A sailboat, (a canoe or kayak would also be good, these could be built if I've got that knife)

A sextant (I bet there aren't many other references to sextants on here) Anybody else know how to use one?

Games (Is there anybody else around to play them with? I guess solo games are good to, these could easily be built if you have the knowledge of them, I guess that's what would be in the books)

Oops that's 8, but I'm not going to change it. The question should have asked what 8 things. That's my story and I'm stickin to it..

How can I be in two places at one time, it seems I've always got too much going on. Mostly my fault, by keeping a too full plate, and trying not to say no to a friend. Camping motorcycling cars board games chess computers tools

It starts out with a drive downtown a little before 5, I park in front of the thrift shop and walk through it looking for bargains, sometimes I walk through Pathfinder, our local outdoors store, and check out the new gear. Then I head over to the mall, and do the complete walking tour of the stores mostly for exercise and to see who's out. I check the bargain tables at a couple of the stores like Sears and the book store. Then I head to food court, we have a singles group that meets there.

After dinner I head to the local CW watering hole, McGraws, for a couple beers. I visit with another group of friends and thenDancing 2 step, waltz, polka, western swing. I rarely sit down, I'm teaching the new ones and the regulars are waiting in line to ask me.

Learning to dance has been the most important thing in my life when it comes to meeting women. The big city stick in the mud technical dancers wouldn't say I'm good, but the women I dance with will say I'm the most fun to dance with. Mostly I've taught myself. I have learned unconventional methods to quickly and simply teach the dances that I do. This allows a woman to quickly feel at ease. That's my secret, I guess it was my secret....just between us, don't tell anybody, K... If the other men learn this I might have to do more asking.

If I admitted it, it wouldn't be private now would it.... I will share my OKcupid test result: I'm "The Slow Dancer", Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLDm)I should AVOID: The "Battleaxe" and CONSIDER: The "Maid of Honor" or The "Sonnet"

It seems pretty accurate, I do love to slow dance and definitely steer clear of any battleaxes I've known, and I have known a few. Now where do I find that maid of honor.....Have you seen her?

your still reading.... the worst thing that could happen is you would have another friend. Jon Held jheld mtbkpkr