Date women from United States / California / Chatsworth, 71 year old

Date a woman from United States. I canРІР‚в„ўt imagine any more interesting life than the one I have lived, but there's alot more living to do and I don't want to do it alone.
Having worked my entire adult life, I have learned the skills to live a satisfying and independent life. I have developed the critical thinking skills to negotiate all types of circumstances; at the same time, I have an intuitive soft side that’s evident to strangers. Often in a public place, I am the one who is asked by a stranger, “Can you tell me what time it is?” or “How do I get to (their destination)?”
I have had a successful professional career as a university professor on several different university campuses; I have gotten my post-secondary education from three other universities, and worked at three others. Together these experiences have given me the opportunity to spend significant periods of time in many regions of the US including; Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Washington, DC, Georgia, New Mexico, and ending up in Southern California which I have grown to love and now call home.
I have been married twice; divorced once after 16 years of marriage (2 children); then widowed in 1994 after being married 18 years. My children, both of whom I am extremely proud, are grown and established in productive lives of their own.
Since the death of my “favorite husband” 13 years ago, my work consumed me, offering more to do than I could accomplish in any one lifetime. Many good friends have filled the void of companionship—that is up to now.
As I approach full retirement I realize there is more to life than only working, yet IРІР‚в„ўm not ready to sit down and quit moving. There are places to go, things to be seen, and new discoveries to be made, but IРІР‚в„ўd love to share these with someone.
I can't really put descriptors on who the perfect match would be since I've learned to appreciate the wonderful qualities of people I might never have considered drawing from a list. People are greater and far more interesting than the list of descriptors that might be put on them. I'd like to think this applies to me, as well.
There are some things that can be listed and easily checked off in the boxes, especially the negatives (such as smoking or body piercings), but other wonders remain to be discovered and experienced. I believe the essence of a person comes through between the lines and the silences during those intimate times together.
I expect in that special someone nothing more than what I have to offer and expect of myself. Honesty and the ability to communicate openly are most important; a spirit that finds the positives in life rather than dwelling on the negative �woulda, coulda, shoulda beens’; fun loving with a sense of humor that allows him to laugh at himself and laugh with others; a spirit of kindness that when seeing a need knows how to meet it; and a sense of curiosity about life and each other. Above all, there must be mutual respect for one another if the relationship is to gain greater depth as it goes along. My perfect match—whether occasional date or long term relationship—would be, as I am, a romantic who values the relationship that develops. Only time will reveal what path two people will take as a relationship develops. Part of the excitement is the process and what the journey will reveal.