Been a year since recovering from a surgery that resulted in an infection needing three more surgeries. Life, in general, has been good (I got a cool scar out of it at least), but being in a state where you're 50/50 as to whether you want to stay alive or not makes you really consider what you really want.

Admittedly, one of the things I'm really wanting has been sharing intimacy and physical touch with someone, but without worrying about moving in together or meeting families or engagement or marriage or kids. A genuine connection without the deep responsibilities. And usually you get that through dating and knowing someone.

It's not a surprise that dating is a challenge. In some ways it had become easier being older (or at least "was" until some of these apps decided to change their fucking shitty algorithms so that you can't actually see anyone that likes you without paying"). But getting to know someone quickly and briefly as intensely as possible only for it to fail has been exhausting. And truth be told, while I've also made plenty of good friends during the process, I've really been struggling to find the intimacy part. It's that weird scale of "needing the thing" versus "tired of looking" that teeters back and forth.

Looks like for me it's teetering back into the "Well, we should try this again" territory.

About me: 40 year old man, east Asian descent (but born in and raised in the US), 6'1", in shape, PhD in one of the STEM fields, play music as a hobby, enjoy playing videogames and reading (when I get around to it) and day hikes.

Searching for: Woman that's perhaps looking for a connection and something intimate, but wouldn't call it a boyfriend/girlfriend (maybe best described as a friend with benefits or situationship, someone I can get to know and not have a conversation about meeting families or moving in together in the near future). Something between casual and wanting to move in together in the next 6 months. Someone to have dinner and a show with, or to go to a museum, followed by fun adult activities. Physically is height-weight proportional (e.g., skinny, average, curvy in the right places). Can hold a conversation and does not leave chats hanging. Age between let's say 25-50, but can give or take a few years on each end. Preferences for Caucasian, Asian, and Latina, but this is generally a case-to-case basis. Prefer to exchange photos earlier to see if there's an attraction. Also someone local to DC or within the metro system and actually willing to meet sooner than later. Did I mention can hold a conversation?

Pics of me:

https://imgur.com/i1cg6mA

https://imgur.com/EszpVPu

Hope to hear from you.