Hello, and welcome!

This ad features bolded portions for those who don't want to dedicate the time without some reassurance it may pay off!

I'm very interested in meeting like-minded folk who believe they have some similarities with me and that we may click. Specifically, I'm seeking a cisgender woman (a preference of mine, even for platonic relations) that's 18 or older from any country and background (who that woman is matters more to me than details of this sort). Men who take interest are fine as well, especially if we have similar goals in life. I'm 33 and male myself, living in the Eastern US. I adore thorough and passionate interactions with a meaningful basis. I dislike trivialities and meaningless expectations.

I want to feel and create a deep bond that's built little by little with every conversation and action. In this way, I'm open to any possible type of relationship with the people I meet here, from acquaintances, to friends, to penpals. Our connection should develop over time. My ultimate goal is to bond with those I jibe with regardless of where we end up. We'll need to feel out what works best for us and where we want to take things and when. I've experienced everything from becoming very close with someone within the first conversation to remaining very brief with others after weeks. I've enjoyed everything from regular/daily casual texts and banter to several page e-mail penpal exchanges. Let's get creative and go with the flow.

I've also always been the type to want to meet new and interesting people. Lacking similarities has actually opened me and those I met to things we would have never considered before. Some common interests and especially character traits are vital, but completely relating and having everything in common isn't as important as you would think. Knowing what traits matter most comes out in chat and interaction, not a checklist of things to conform to. I've been surprised by who I was able to bond and share with, so I'm open to a lot. I hope you are as well.

I want to make it clear that if whoever is reading this feels like we may have a connection or ability to bond together they should message me. No hesitations or doubts, please. I don't believe in losing potential and being self-defeated before anything even occurred. I've not uncommonly been told I'm patient, kind, and easy to talk to, which I hope is just as true for those I come across here. Should you like or need it, please allow me to soothe your nerves instead of allowing us to suffer from any misunderstandings or difficulties.

More about me and what I'm seeking:

• I like long, intimate, deep, and personal discussion. By this, I mean not being restricted by trivialities and actually being ourselves. I'm not someone who likes casual chat about things that don't matter to either of us. Be genuine and authentic. It can take time to feel comfortable and be seen in a raw form, but doing so is an ultimate goal.
• I adore vulnerable people with complexity and seeing who someone really is. Having a comfortable space to fully let loose is an ideal. We all hurt, and some more than others - I disagree with the notion that one should hide these aspects of themselves. I'm openly accepting of sensitive and traumatized people and see their mental state and experiences as having a great deal to offer despite the difficulties. Personally, I'm in a sort of 'third phase' of my own development. I no longer do the opposite of what caused my difficulties and no longer intellectualize my pain in hopes of convincing myself I've somehow fully eradicated it. I meet people where they are, but find it important to state where I am.
• I value creativity and like artistic types. I express this myself through writing and more literary arts. In particular, I write intellectually, about general observations and thoughts, and poetically - mostly to other people in the form of conversation partners (I'm very much a conversational thinker and writer and can go on for a long, long time about a plethora of topics with the right person). I appreciate and admire all sorts of expression, even if it's a type I'm not personally involved in.
• I'm INTJ and Type 5, since some people seem to like knowing. I like taking different types of tests to understand myself better, although a lot of them seem petty bunk to me, including MBTI and Enneagram. But, it can be a decent basis and fun activity to share with someone. I also enjoy taking tests with other people and comparing results, as well as discussing the tests themselves.

More about my values, passions, and interests:

• I like to ruminate, research, and learn new things. I don't like to constrain myself, and I strive to see various topics in intricate and new ways. I'm, by choice, an autodidact, and prefer this sort of person as well, or at least those who can appreciate liberated knowledge acquisition and comprehension. I believe there's always more to know and more ways to know those things - humanity can only comprehend so much, and less than we think we can. The motto 'Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negata.' is a pretty good summary of my intellectual ethics. Those who believe certain topics are beyond any and all forms of reproach probably won't do well with me in this endeavor. In this case, we should limit ourselves in order to benefit from what does happen to be there, or simply adopt a different motto: 'Friends who want to stay friends don't discuss religion or politics.' In my experience, it's not polarizing stances that cause difficulties between people, but how unwavering someone is in their resolve, refusing to so much as listen to what another person has to say.
• I believe in eternity - in both directions. This means I have a primary focus on the future, a significant focus on the past, and acknowledge the present moment as a form of transience between the two. I'm not a "live your life to the fullest" type. My life started before I had it and will continue after it's gone, but I do believe in simply absorbing what's there while it's there. I'm not uncommonly melancholic, but am almost never lackadaisical.
• I live a very dynamic life and have since I was young. I might stay up chatting until dawn one night and then be passed out by 5 PM the next one - likely because of the lack of sleep during the first. My pursuits, job, and the other demands of life are in constant flux. My resolution has always been to regulate these various needs and wants and to intensely focus on them when and if possible. I don't believe in being "too busy". You can always find time for someone, even if it's not consistent - finding that flow and appreciation of each other is vital.
• Photography, tech, incense, time pieces, archiving, and abstraction have always interested me and continue to do so. I'm always surprised by what people consider to be interests and hobbies, so I probably have more I take for granted and didn't list here. I haven't consumed media regularly in years, but used to engage with a lot of it when I was younger, mostly including movies, anime/manga, and video games. I still watch movies from time to time, being more prone to it when I have someone else to accompany me. If you're looking for a gaming buddy or TV junkie you'll need to find it elsewhere, but I'm not fully opposed to sharing or talking about these things with someone either. I used to love it at one point.

Are we looking for each other? I'd greatly appreciate a reasonably lengthy chat/message in which you told me what within my ad resonated with you, what you're seeking, and anything else you may want to mention. I would like to get to know people with a level of depth akin to what I wrote here, and will end up asking about these things at some point anyway. I look forward to us chatting and connecting around meaningful and fervid passions.