I'm looking for my very own "regular Joe", and I'm going to try to describe him. I've tried to be open-minded, talking to lots of people who are different than me, meeting people who are different than me, and it is not working :)

He's tall and slim, and is more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, than in dressing up to sip wine in a fine restaurant. He likes to fish, likes to roam around exploring different areas, likes to eat in little, unknown places off the beaten path. He likes to hang around with people who are down-to-earth, good people and his friends are important to him. Don't get me wrong, this guy is intelligent and can hold a conversation, he's someone that people could learn from, if they were smart enough to recognize real intelligence, good old fashioned common sense of a person who is aware of what is going on around him.

That primary relationship with a woman, that partner in life, is really important to him, also. But he's learned to live without it, because he's selective and he's not willing to settle for someone who is wrong for him, and ends up making him feel miserable about himself. He may have some old hurts, but that's what they are, old and he's learned what he could from it all, and moved on. He's independent, not looking for someone to fill all his needs (he's learned to fill most of his own needs) but, instead, is looking for someone who would just build on and enhance what he's already worked hard to build in his own life.

He's pretty cheerful and optimistic most of the time, can laugh at himself and doesn't take life too seriously. He treats other people the way he would want to be treated and wants to just enjoy life, enjoy the company of another cheerful person, and avoid all the drama, because he wants peace in his life and people who appreciate the best of who he is. He's not impressed with titles, degrees, how much someone owns, who people know, or what people have done, unless they've done things to make life better or easier for other people.

You see, what I am describing, what I am looking for, is also what I have to offer someone. I'm not looking for a perfect match, because some differences in personality and interests are also important. Its so simple, what I'm looking for: someone I can respect and admire, someone I can go outside and play with, someone who likes to tease just to make others laugh at themselves, someone who is sweet and will love being around me, as I'll love being around him, someone who makes my heart sing...just by being who he is.

And I am going to find him!! :)

A great date would be fishing, then going out to eat, and just sitting there talking to each other, happy to be near each other. Forget all the traditional rules of romance (flowers, fine dining, gifts). Planning and organizing a fishing trip, getting out there early in the morning, before the mist rises up off the water, fishing all day, cleaning the fish, and then going out to eat, overlooking the water, maybe touching hands across the table and just grinning at each other, is about as romantic as it gets for me :)