What would humans be without love?

[kml]

Congrats on your ring!

As for dating - maybe before you jump back into the pool, you should draft up a set of rules or guidelines for yourself - kind of advice to you future self. (Since we all know your future self will possibly be trying to think with an oxytocin-addled brain ).

What would be some prerequisites to protect you from your savior tendencies?

Potential girlfriends must be financially self-sufficient? (And hopefully not just by dint of child support and alimony, both of which will eventually go away). She should be either gainfully employed or independently wealthy or comfortably retired with a healthy retirement plan and the ability to live within her means.

She should be formally divorced!!!

She should be smart enough to be able to appreciate your nerdiness, not criticize it.

She should be kind - not just to you, but to others.

She should be reasonably tidy.

What else would you put on your wish list?

Then there are the boundaries - a minimum of a year before you consider living together? Or better yet, two years?

[AndrewP]

Getting used to wearing a ring again. It feels familiar. I did notice that my fingers on my left hand are noticeably smaller than on my right which is perhaps odd - or not.

Feels weird as well to be working from home on the corporate project vs working with the plant. I did notice that a few of the things I used to take care of kind of went sideways including last night's rail switch - a couple of cars that were needed didn't come in. It will all get sorted out though. I'm a big believer in not being indispensable but as an organization we've not done as good of a job on cross-training as we should have. I did get one phone call yesterday to sort out some of the transloading paperwork that had confused one of the admin people. It's amazing how most people only can see the one part of the job that is in front of them without understanding the broader context.

The corporate project is a steaming pile of do-do right now. One of the guys who has been working on it for the past few years got called in to his bosses office early yesterday on a conference call I was on to review the deliverables and said that he couldn't make time because of other random tasks he was focusing on. He was advised differently. He's very frustrated because he's being asked to do things that aren't part of his core competencies but are in mine and he's been trying to get me to do those tasks for him for the past year or more and then getting lost and bogged down. Probably one of the reasons I was called back in.

I also found out that one of the key members of our corporate executive team has handed in their notice which is going to cause more than a few problems. I quite liked her and remember when she joined us talking to her about how the chemical industry wasn't evil and that we at least have a solid code of ethics that we adhere to. She was very uncomfortable with our business and perhaps always has been. It's funny in some ways perhaps that I have these good historical relationships with the bulk of the people at the top of the organization whereas I'm floating somewhere farther down.

I was able to knock off one of the key project deliverables yesterday fairly easily - I did much of the original setup work in the early days of the project before it was decided that it would all go smoothly by contracting everything out. Which then stalled out quite badly because there was no overall plan or leadership.

I'm working on something project related for the plant I work at today - tedious cross-checking of lab parameters. So many incorrect assumptions and needless complications mainly caused by not actually understanding the business side of things. I'll hopefully get that sorted out today.

The cadence of my normal work day is all messed up and that's taking some work to deal with. Normally I'm at the plant by about 7:30 to finalize production planning, busy sorting out loading, rail car movements, wandering around waving my clipboard and then leave by about 5:00 having gone through the days production and shipments to start it all again the next day.

Now I have my breakfast at 7:30, start work about 8:30 and find myself at the end of the day thinking "there's something I should be doing" - sort of a lost feeling. It will probably take a week or so to get into the groove of things.

---

Still wondering about where the future will lead me. There's a song by the band Sugarland "Do You Believe in Love" that hit me oddly when I heard it the other day. Even if I dig, I have a hard time remembering what being in love felt like. And perhaps because of that, it's not really something that I'm finding I'm missing I miss companionship and the sense of purpose that having a partner gave me.

I did go on to one of the OLD sites where I have an old hidden profile and updated the Lorum Ipsum I had put there but really couldn't think of what to say other than Nerd seeking Nerdette and that I'm a pretty content guy who likes craft shows, flea markets and pie. Didn't really feel the urge to pull the trigger on that though. In my mind, getting into the pond again means that it's something I'm wanting to put an effort in on and I'm not there.

I did get a bit of a surprise because in the "people you might know" on social media a woman whose picture I recognized popped up. One of the long haulers. I checked her social media and she has a fella at least as of a few weeks ago but still has an active OLD profile.

One of my nieces when I made a joke on a meme she posted was quick to tell me that I won't be single for long because I'm a "total catch" so there's a belief out there which I would tend to agree with that if I chose to put myself "out there" that there are potential partners. Certainly at my age the odds have increased a fair bit as there are a good number of women I would think in their late 50s or early-mid 60s who are without a partner for a variety of reasons. Some of them appear to have made a bit of an effort to find me - there's a couple who have connected on social media where we only have a tenuous IRL connection but it's that "next step" that's missing on either side.

Ah well - back to my lab results.

[kml]

Nerd seeking Nerdette and that I'm a pretty content guy who likes craft shows, flea markets and pie.

I would think that there are a lot of the right kind of women who would find that appealing.

[LH19]

Still wondering about where the future will lead me.

Me too. As does every human on the planet.

There's a song by the band Sugarland "Do You Believe in Love" that hit me oddly when I heard it the other day.

I believe that song is from Huey Lewis and the News.

Even if I dig, I have a hard time remembering what being in love felt like.

You were just engaged about a year or so ago. It wasn't that long. Unless you were engaged to woman you didn't love which is kinda psycho?

And perhaps because of that, it's not really something that I'm finding I'm missing

Hmmm.

I miss companionship and the sense of purpose that having a partner gave me.

What exactly is this sense of purpose?

I did go on to one of the OLD sites where I have an old hidden profile and updated the Lorum Ipsum I had put there but really couldn't think of what to say other than Nerd seeking Nerdette and that I'm a pretty content guy who likes craft shows, flea markets and pie.

So with a profile like that you are down to about 2% of the dating population.

Didn't really feel the urge to pull the trigger on that though.

Fear of rejection is a serious issue in the OLDing world.

In my mind, getting into the pond again means that it's something I'm wanting to put an effort in on and I'm not there.

Yeah unless you are over 6 ft, make over 6 figures, have a full head of hair and a chiseled physique you are going to have to put some effort in Andy P.

I did get a bit of a surprise because in the "people you might know" on social media a woman whose picture I recognized popped up. One of the long haulers. I checked her social media and she has a fella at least as of a few weeks ago but still has an active OLD profile.

UUuuummm yeah you don't delete your profile after a few weeks.

One of my nieces when I made a joke on a meme she posted was quick to tell me that I won't be single for long because I'm a "total catch" so there's a belief out there which I would tend to agree with that if I chose to put myself "out there" that there are potential partners.

Of course there are potential partners out there. What does a catch look like to you?

Certainly at my age the odds have increased a fair bit as there are a good number of women I would think in their late 50s or early-mid 60s who are without a partner for a variety of reasons.

Yep. Someone who is a catch can date down 10-20 years too.

Some of them appear to have made a bit of an effort to find me - there's a couple who have connected on social media where we only have a tenuous IRL connection but it's that "next step" that's missing on either side.

Well Andy P put on your big boy pants and ask these women out!

[AndrewP]

I got curious and hit the "show post button"

Yeah unless you are over 6 ft, make over 6 figures, have a full head of hair and a chiseled physique you are going to have to put some effort in Andy P.

Well - actually I'm just under 6' in my stocking feet so slightly over when I wear shoes, have very thick hair and yes, make nicely into 6 figures in a low cost rural area which probably increases the impact of that by a considerable factor.

Yep. Someone who is a catch can date down 10-20 years too.

Why the heck would I want to do that? You like numbers even though you tend to repeat them mindlessly and make them up. Men age more quickly than women and someone in their 30s looking to latch on to me wouldn't be doing it with a long term view. I have no urge to become a sugar-daddy. And someone even 10 years younger likely has teenagers and someone 20 years younger could well be looking to have more kids which isn't something I have any interest in taking on. I've had my kids - no interest in more. A person my age or up is more likely to have their sh!t together and not need any rescuing. And post-menopausal women can be quite passionate and surprisingly athletic.

Back to ignore mode.

Nerd seeking Nerdette and that I'm a pretty content guy who likes craft shows, flea markets and pie.

I would think that there are a lot of the right kind of women who would find that appealing.

I would tend to agree - especially your comment about "right kind". B was a lovely person in many ways but a bit lost with a guy who wasn't in to hunting, fishing and drinking beer at the cottage. There were lots of other reasons that didn't work out too but it was very much square peg / round hole kind of thing.

[DejaVu6]

Why the heck would I want to do that? You like numbers even though you tend to repeat them mindlessly and make them up. Men age more quickly than women and someone in their 30s looking to latch on to me wouldn't be doing it with a long term view. I have no urge to become a sugar-daddy. And someone even 10 years younger likely has teenagers and someone 20 years younger could well be looking to have more kids which isn't something I have any interest in taking on. I've had my kids - no interest in more. A person my age or up is more likely to have their sh!t together and not need any rescuing. And post-menopausal women can be quite passionate and surprisingly athletic.

Andrew for the win!!! Nice to know there are some guys out there who appreciate what us post-menopausal women have to offer. Also the reason why I am trying to stick to my own age group… as someone who has her sh*t together. Not interested in rescuing anyone either emotionally or financially.

[LH19]

Well - actually I'm just under 6' in my stocking feet so slightly over when I wear shoes, have very thick hair and yes, make nicely into 6 figures in a low cost rural area which probably increases the impact of that by a considerable factor.

How about the chiseled physique?

You like numbers even though you tend to repeat them mindlessly and make them up.

Oh my numbers are real buddy boy.

Men age more quickly than women and someone in their 30s looking to latch on to me wouldn't be doing it with a long term view.

I didn't say you could date a woman in her 30s.

I have no urge to become a sugar-daddy.

You mean again.

And someone even 10 years younger likely has teenagers and someone 20 years younger could well be looking to have more kids which isn't something I have any interest in taking on.

I don't think anyone is looking for you to be a baby daddy.

I've had my kids - no interest in more.

Understood.

A person my age or up is more likely to have their sh!t together and not need any rescuing.

I have yet to date a woman who didn't have her [censored] together or needed rescuing at any age. That is the type of woman you are attracted to.

And post-menopausal women can be quite passionate and surprisingly athletic.

Spit my coffee!

Back to ignore mode.

You can't shake me Andy P. I was in your neck of the woods last weekend.

I would think that there are a lot of the right kind of women who would find that appealing.

Well if you define 2% of the dating pool a lot.

B was a lovely person in many ways but a bit lost with a guy who wasn't in to hunting, fishing and drinking beer at the cottage.

So B likes to have fun? That biotch lol.

[Traveler]

re: "Do you believe in love?" by Sugarland. Yes, LH -- "Do you believe in love" is Huey Lewis and the News! I wager Andrew is instead referring to Sugrland's "Love", a song noting and questioning the many faces of love "Is it the one you call home? Is it the Holy Land? Is it just like the movies? Is it the first summer storm?" The right song for his questions.

Nerd seeking Nerdette and that I'm a pretty content guy who likes craft shows, flea markets and pie.

I like this. Unique and it screams Andrew! Bonus points for pie porn as one of your photos.

[kml]

Originally Posted by Andrew
Nerd seeking Nerdette and that I'm a pretty content guy who likes craft shows, flea markets and pie.
I like this. Unique and it screams Andrew! Bonus points for pie porn as one of your photos.

Lol, definitely post a picture of one of your lovely pies - and make sure to take credit for baking it! Some Nerdette will find that attractive for sure!

[bttrfly]

Well - actually I'm just under 6' in my stocking feet so slightly over when I wear shoes, have very thick hair and yes, make nicely into 6 figures in a low cost rural area which probably increases the impact of that by a considerable factor.

How about the chiseled physique?

You like numbers even though you tend to repeat them mindlessly and make them up.

Oh my numbers are real buddy boy.

Men age more quickly than women and someone in their 30s looking to latch on to me wouldn't be doing it with a long term view.

I didn't say you could date a woman in her 30s.

I have no urge to become a sugar-daddy.

You mean again.

And someone even 10 years younger likely has teenagers and someone 20 years younger could well be looking to have more kids which isn't something I have any interest in taking on.

I don't think anyone is looking for you to be a baby daddy.

I've had my kids - no interest in more.

Understood.

A person my age or up is more likely to have their sh!t together and not need any rescuing.

I have yet to date a woman who didn't have her [censored] together or needed rescuing at any age. That is the type of woman you are attracted to.

And post-menopausal women can be quite passionate and surprisingly athletic.

Spit my coffee!

Back to ignore mode.

You can't shake me Andy P. I was in your neck of the woods last weekend.

I would think that there are a lot of the right kind of women who would find that appealing.

Well if you define 2% of the dating pool a lot.

B was a lovely person in many ways but a bit lost with a guy who wasn't in to hunting, fishing and drinking beer at the cottage.

So B likes to have fun? That biotch lol.

Posts like this one are exactly why I've pretty much stopped coming to this forum. Way to take a dying board a few notches further to the grave LH... So much kindness and consideration in this post, so much positive support.