Hey there! I've been looking all over for you, and we're off to a good start now that you're here, right?

Call me selfish, but I want it all - from road trips to nights cuddled up on the couch; brilliant new restaurants to trying to cook new dishes at home. I want nights we gaze at the stars and say nothing, to days we bake in the sun on the beach and can't stop chatting. But...that's not how things work. Love isn't about the best things, it's about the worst things, too. I want to pick you up when you've completely fallen apart and dust you off and tell you it'll be okay, and for you to do the same for me. I want to be with you on the worst days of our lives and know those days were only tolerable because you were there with me. I want all that, and the in between - a random hug when I'm carrying the laundry to the wash, or a playful kiss just because. A terrible movie we struggle through because neither of us want to let go of one another to get up to turn it off, wrapped up in a blanket and enjoying being close.

I want all that with *you*.

Well, "you" in this instance being an indefinite article. Clearly not everyone reading this is that person, but there's a non-0 chance you are that person and that's why I'm here. Well, let me tell you about myself and see if I'm what you're looking for!

I'm 38, a single dad of two great girls that I have most of the time (I also can't have any more kids - just in case either of these are deal breakers). I'm funny (obviously), and deeply caring. I can be sarcastic but I'm self-aware enough to know when to use it appropriately - not one of those people who 'speak sarcasm' as a white-wash of their toxic negativity. I have my own hobbies, I have friends, and I'm not looking for a mother (I have one) or a caretaker (I'm a grown ass man). I have a career I have been enjoying, and I highly prioritize experiences over things. I've put in the work in therapy over the past years to work on myself and focus on being the best dad/person/partner I can be, and I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. Physically, I'm 5'8" with brown hair, pale blue eyes, a very short beard, and a dad bod that I'm slowly working on. I have a few tattoos if you're into that, but most are hidden. Lastly - and this'll be a fun one that may throw a wrench into things for some readers - I believe in enthusiastic consent, that love is love, that women should be the only people responsible for making decisions about their healthcare, among other things.

As far as who I'm looking for, well - I'll leave that up to fate. I don't really have a 'type', but I do recognize that physical attraction is of course important so I'm happy to swap a photo after some conversation. All I ask is that you've done some work on yourself and know what you're looking for, and that you're local(ish). If you have plans already to move to the area, sure - but long distance probably isn't going to work.

If this resonates you - if you feel stirred to write to me - I look forward to reading it!