I am a very kind, gentle, intelligent, articulate, playful, fun-loving, affectionate, and expressive man. I am a bit intense, yet I walk a gentle pathway; my intensity is my embracing of what some label as "extreme" activities and my language skills to express how those activities feed/have fed me. I will state here that the more extreme stuff - flying aerobatics in a sailplane, expert level downhill skiing on one leg (due to a rotten knee) is in my past, due to aging and accumulated wear and tear; a latter day resurrection of function (total knee replacement) notwithstanding. I am a very strong communicator and have a passion for language, and I have the tools to say what I mean and share the world I see through my own eyes. It is a nice view. I hope that you are able to communicate with clarity as well. If you can do so with eloquence and artful presentation, you will hold me enraptured. Quality communication is essential to the process and depth of sharing that I desire and give. I met a brilliant, evolved, deeply spiritual woman some years ago who said "great conversation is like sex for the soul". Amen to that.
I have had a few women ask: "So what happened to this brilliant articulate woman?" Alcohol. Being drunk is ugly (although, I do drink with meals). After watching my mother die from alcohol-related cancer at the age of 47, I have baggage about substance abusers, especially drunks. Okay? That being said, the scarf on my hat belonged to my mom, who died a year after I taught her to XC ski, and that seemed to deliver her, at least in those moments, from her demons. I believe in redemption...

I am not a party person and much prefer small groups to large noisy ones. I am pretty domestic (love my fine-art photography filled home and being here), however I do love to go to restaurants (from dives to high-end) and love go see all types of performing arts.

I am a former mountain climber and ski instructor (taught "handicapped" skiing) who, although slowed down significantly, still loves the mountains and I try and spend plenty of time there. After 10 knee surgeries over 25 years I finally had a TKR 7 years ago and it is like I won the lotto. I am again able to hike all day and cross country ski in the winter (and try and take a handful of Tahoe trips each winter). I am perfectly happy doing these alone (and, dear reader, I do not find that to be dangerous), however if you at least enjoy being in the mountains, that would be a huge plus. If you actually X-C ski or like to hike all day, we just might be too good to be true. John Muir said that "Going to the mountains is going home" Amen to that, as well.

I am hoping to find a mate (LTR) who also has an adventurous spirit and is either very intelligent and/or highly educated. A woman who is happy, playful, and at peace. Someone whose children are grown, out of the house, and no longer dependent. You must be financially responsible, be employed, and at this point in life hopefully you are saving for retirement years. I am looking for someone who has the time and energy to make a relationship a high priority and is emotionally healthy enough to embrace something wonderful, without fear or still nursing old wounds.

*NOTE* If you are HEAVILY into any of the following I am not the guy for you: NFL, NHL, UFC, boxing, hunting, etc. I am rather idealistic and I abhor supporting violence disguised as sports, especially paying a pro athlete what they are paid (and supporting that by buying tickets) when teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers earn what they do. I am non-competitive and completely clueless about sports; I don't keep score in life, nor do I play games, and I do not like being around people who do. I believe in karma and the truth of what it means - buying a ticket to a hockey or football game, or being a fan of UFC, is NOT kind and peaceful energy. I am a kind, gentle outdoorsman. I walk through the wilderness to grow my soul, not to conquer the mountain or kill the life that thrives there. I like to spend the day on the mountain and then tend to come back to my comfortable home (or rental cabin or condo) and cook a nice meal and write poetry about my feelings as I touched the earth, with a fire in the fireplace and a lap full of cats. The lap full of cats would be bettered by cuddling with a woman of like-minded GENTLE spirit. The big strong outdoorsman gentle enough to bottle feed a kitten and spend thousands of dollars saving her life is who I am - that's why that picture is included in my profile. I am also very verbal and expressive of my thoughts and feelings and it is vital that you are, as well. If your profile is three sentences long and two of them indicate that you have a hard time talking or writing about yourself, then that is pro'lly a deal-breaker, too. Communication is high on my list of 'must haves'. Make sense? Great, lets talk.

Also, I have received a handful of responses from women who live far away from me. I work long hours, but I work from a home office, so it doesn't seem like work, to me. That being said, I DO NOT have the time in my days to include a 2 - 3 hour round trip commute (or more) to go on a date. If you do, all power to you for having that kind of spare time.

Despite being highly allergic to them, I have two cats. If you are someone who might let something as easy to live with as an allergy stop you from embracing the joyous love that something might bring you, then it isn't likely that we will understand each other and what we seek and embrace in life. No judgment, but I am looking for someone who will take a chance, make an effort, reach outside what is comfortable, and dare to stand on the bow of the boat and scream out: "I am the queen of the world". Daring to open your heart to love is a risk which I embrace, and seek in a mate.

One more thing - a lot of women our age talk about how they want someone who can dance and will dance with them. Although I can hike or cross country ski all day, I do so wearing a very serious knee brace. I have a prosthetic knee, which sacrificed my ACL in that knee. Additionally, I have had my spine repaired, twice. Dancing, or putting any twisting energy on my spine or my knee not only would be stupid, but would likely result in a loss of function that I have worked hard to maintain. I am 54 years old and there are things that I embrace and do that many people our age do not, and there are things that many people our age do and I will not. I don't dance. Not THAT way...

come by your house about 3 A.M. and head up to San Gorgonio and hit the trailhead before it's light and start hiking into the sunrise...or how about trekking out in a heavy snowstorm on snowshoes or XC skis???

or maybe just someplace where we can chat?
-and then hike on the second date ;o)