I've found someone really special on here now, a romantic interest, She's FANTASTIC! but I'm still open to new friends! I hope what I say below helps, several have told me it does.
I'm pretty active, running & working out regularly. I'm 5'-9 1/2" & 160lbs. I want to stay in the best possible shape I can for my favorite activities.
I like canoeing- both "whitewater" canoeing and "river-floating" & camping, river fishing, and wade-fishing in rivers & creeks.
. The lime green canoe in the picture is a 15' Mad River "ME". It is set up w/ a "saddle" seat & 2 "thwart" seats. The "thwart" seats are for paddling it tandem. It's not an absolute necessity but I'd like to find someone who could paddle tandem whitewater w/ me. I also have a 16' Mohawk "Whitewater" Model which isn't nearly such a radical whitewater playboat. It is MUCH better for less experienced paddlers and also more comfortable, w/ cane seats and enough cargo room for 1 or 2 nites on the river. I like to hike side-creeks, sometimes photographing creek scenes & waterfalls. The Buffalo in Arkansas is my favorite because it has so many good side-creek hikes w/ interesting scenery. I've also done a little whitewater rafting. I like the "teamwork" in it. My ultimate "dream float" is not the Grand Canyon, but the Middle Fork of the Salmon, in Idaho.
I'm a member of Ozark Mountain Paddlers, a canoeing, kayaking, & river-running club in Springfield. I enjoy the monthly meetings often and have been helping lately w/ the annual whitewater clinic on the cooking crew. I appreciate very much the safety, education, and conservation values the club strives for. Good causes make for a much more enriching social experience, I think.
I photograph waterfalls in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. This also invovles hiking & camping. My collection of UBW creek & waterfall pictures has become a MAJOR deal in my life. As a result I haven't been canoeing as much whitewater lately, because the spring run-off time is also, obviously, the best time to photograph waterfalls in the UBW. I would really like a woman's company for both, that is, if you could ENJOY it. If you get to know me I'll explain this more.
W/ enough snow I Cross-Country Ski. I'd like someday to go on a trip where X-Co ski-touring is popular.
I like to Contra Dance, Polka & Waltz, and I'm active in a Contra Dance group which has a couple of monthly social dances. The women dance partners I show on here are either too young for me to date or I'm too old for them to date or they are married & their husbands won't or can't dance.
I'm active in my church; I believe worship, bible study, and fellowship are important aspects of one's spiritual life, as well as those thigs which are internal, personal and private.
I like Bluegrass & Jazz, especially hearing music live, eye to eye, face to face, soul to soul. Ozark House Concert Series has been a favourite of mine for many years.
I like women. I Especially like physically active, pretty, Tom-Boy types; smart & cute & talented is ideal. Inner Beauty is even more important. Hair color doesn't seem all that important, & I don't care what color her eyes are as long as they are bright and they "light up" when they look into mine! I don't DEMAND all these, but my "dream ideal" or "fantasy" is long lean legs, long hair & long skirts which all flow in the gentle breeze as we whirl & twirl in an "Austrian Turning Waltz", -the kind you do to a German Polka Band- Light, Lively & Fast!
I like Hugs & Kisses, but I believe what every one needs more than ANYTHING is HUGS!
I believe there are 5 "Elements" or "Basic Principles" which make it possible to establish & maintain RELATIONSHIPS. They are a must for them to survive! The 5 lead to a 6th overall "Element".
1.) LISTENING
2.) BELIEVING & "BELIEVING IN" (Believing RE: what they say esp. about the past, -
hence one must be credible, "Believing In" RE: Faith & Trust about the
future.
3.) WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE - All relationships involve "giving & receiving" which
necessitates some change, tho you don't specifically enter a relationship
just to "change" someone else. (see 6 later)
4.) ACKNOWLEDGMENT -ADMIT (honestly) WHO YOU ARE - RECOGNIZE (honestly) WHO THEY ARE & SAY SO -
TELL THIS HONEST ASSESSMENT TO ALL SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
5.) GIVE TOKEN SYMBOLS OF YOUR GOOD FAITH, INTENTIONS, AFFECTION, LOVE, ETC.
This is whatever is appropriate for whatever type relationship it is;
Friendship, Business, Employer, Employee, Family, or Romantic, or
Husband & Wife.
Each one seems to involve all of the previous ones, they build on ea. other. They create an umbrella principle: RESPECT- which means MUTUAL RESPECT for: THE OTHER'S "BOUNDARIES" OR EVEN THEIR "LIMITATIONS" AS A HUMAN BEING (or even an organization)
All 5 elements above are used in understanding & living & acting respectfully with & toward one another's "boundaries" & "limitations". When any or all these 5 elements are delinquent, respect, boundaries & limitations, are transgressed, & the bonds are strained, damaged, or even broken. So much of it depends on the foundation of HONESTY, complete honesty. Too many are "content" w/ too little here, & "blissfully" ride down the hill w/o a care into the pits of brokenness & destruction. --- WITHOUT ALL 5 LEADING TO PROPER RESPECT, ANY RELATIONSHIP IS EVENTUALLY DOOMED! --- It doesn't matter how content & happy you are up until the day it all comes unraveled if the foundation of honesty w/ all 5 elements are not there, it will eventually fail, or if you don't establish a new relationship w/ all 5 of these in mind it will never go anywhere at all! These are ultimate truth for relationships.
I know that's quite a few interests but I do believe I have room for a few more which someone else might be able to enrich my life with. In return, I hope and pray my interests might enrich someone else's life. One of the greatest rewards I have enjoyed in all these activities has been to hear someone else sort of gasp when they see any of my waterfall pictures which have been mounted & framed. The Upper Buffalo Wilderness can truly be "breathtaking" if you are attuned to its beauty. I've also been fortunate enough to have people tell me how deeply they've appreciated a day on the river, or a day of hiking & seeing waterfalls & wild Azaelas or fall colors
P.S. I checked "does not want children" above, because I feel it's a little late in my life to have babies. I don't want to distract anyone from attention due their children.
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