Date men and women from United States / California / West Point, 71 year old

Date someone special from United States. It's very difficult to try to describe myself and try to "sell the package", so to speak. In order for you to really assess my character & value, I would have to use more than 2000 characters to due so. I'll try to give you some of the highlights. I have been atheletic, softball, golf, watersports, ex-off road motorcycle rider/racer, sailed our Cal-30 off-shore sailer for years prior to my wifes ill-health. I'm a very loving, compasionate, trustful individual, who places the womans welfare, independence, happiness, opinions, above my needs without affecting our relationship or my own confidence/ego. After 42 years of marriage to the most wonderful woman, I find it quite difficult to open up and advertise who and what I am. I am not looking to "replace" my loving wife, my memories will always be with me. Prior to my wifes passing, she asked me not to crawl into a shell, but search and find another woman to give the same love and happiness that I had given her. I am of German-Dutch ancestery, am a very conservative republican, yet with an open mind. My wife and I attended our first protest, at the Capitol steps, in support of the Anti-MTBE campaign. On the lighter side, I love all forms of music, except rap. I have an electric guitar and dabble a bit, but only when I'm alone. I spent 32 years in aerospace management with Ford Aerospace-Loral Corp-Lockheed Martin. My last position held was as a Program Management Engineer. If I was ever given the "power" I would eliminate cancer, which took my wife, and alzhiemers, which took my father.When I first met my wife of 42 years, we had very little in common, however, we were very young. I have learned, over the years, to become quite mellow and there are very few traits to which I cannot adjust. Besides, I really don't believe in "fitting" someone into a given set of parameters. I sincerly hope we are both given the chance to "see" if we may be a match. Oh, by the way, I no longer have a beard. After 25 years, it's a bit awkward shaving again. Thank you, Bear...