Date men and women from United States / California / Mendocino, 55 year old

Date a soulmate from California, United States. I`m romantic and intelligent and have even been called adorable by someone who knows me quite well and who has absolutely no vested interest in the matter. I especially enjoy good conversation with someone else who has a good mind -- and a good sense of humor. Being interesting and stimulating to each other is something I consider essential. I love romance -- with the right lady of course -- and very much enjoy the occasional candlelight dinner and long walks on the beach and love giving flowers on special occasions or just because. . I`m hoping to meet someone who is intelligent and who has depth and substance and wisdom, and who values these qualities in others. While it`s unlikely we`ll share all interests, some shared interests are essential, as well as learning about what each other is interested in. You should have goals and believe in the importance of "moving forward" in life, and consider, as I do, that a relationship works best when it`s a partnership between equals. Pretty much a "core" belief is that we`re all "works in progress". Needless to say, you should value honesty and integrity and honor, both for yourself and in others. Perhaps I`m a romantic (or simply a pragmatist) but ideally, I think a romantic relationship should grow out of a solid friendship. Broken hearts are something we should strive to avoid, so "friends with benefits" isn`t something that has much appeal; affection and intimacy are much preferable in the context of a loving committed relationship. It takes time (and a bit of effort) to get to know someone and for trust and comfort and a connection of depth to develop. Last but not least, what is really the "core" of a relationship is the connection that develops between us and that undefinable thing called chemistry. As you can see, I live on the coast near Mendocino. I much prefer living in the country where it`s quiet and private and in a setting of natural beauty. Seeing new places near and far; exploring back roads; hiking and exploring outdoors are some of my favorite activities. I have a rather serious passion for engineering and things mechanical, so looking at interesting old machines and buildings are also things I like. Two of the photos I have posted are of exploring old gold mines near Sonora -- not something for the claustrophobic! I do like going to cities also -- especially SF -- for "city" things; museums; browsing used bookstores, a variety of movies and seeing the bright lights and tall buildings. I`m self -- employed with my own buisness, which is related to mechanical design, so if you`re some distance away, my having a schedule that is usually quite flexible should make connecting a lot easier. If any of this sounds interesting to you -- if I sound interesting -- and you`d like to get to know each other, I`d like to hear from you.