When I think about what I want in a relationship, I think about spending time together. I think about eating out, seeing movies, relaxing on the couch, making love and all of these "things". I fear though that whenever I meet someone, that our interaction feels more like talking to someone in a work zoom call. I can make small talk, I can deep talk (usually about politics or current events). It never seems that I can connect to someone on an emotional level. Maybe that just doesn't happen naturally with me?

The last relationship I was in briefly, I had no idea what to do with my partner when she came to stay with me for a week (she was a travel nurse). Sure, we ate out a lot, generally took it easy, but I never knew how to fill up all of the moments in between activities, yet felt I needed to. How do you handle that time when you want to be together, but have no idea if the other person is bored out of their mind because you don't have anything planned?

Maybe you like someone who's low-key and isn't looking to spend every free moment doing "activities" or travelling (which seems to be the second most favorite item listed on nearly every female dating profile after "I love dogs, you better love mine because obviously I will never like you as much as I do my pet"). Let's roll out of bed in the morning, have a lazy breakfast, watch something over coffee and breakfast, have sex, take a shower, and then just do nothing. No pressure to fill the time. Let's just enjoy each other's company. We can eat out for a late lunch or early dinner and otherwise just be near or next to each other all day because we want to be.

Me: 44, white, 5'11", fit, lives in the loop, gainfully employed, and hoping to retire in ~15 years possibly to another country where one of the two major political parties doesn't want to stage a coup to take power

A few of my interests: Politics (very liberal), history (specifically WW2 and ancient Rome), sci-fi/fantasy (books/movies), games, bar trivia, eating out, prefers cats to dogs

You: Fit/average, vaccinated, no kids (unless they're already out of the house) and doesn't want/is ok not having them, enjoys sarcasm

Happy to exchange pictures. I would love to meet for coffee, a walk, or perhaps a drink after a few messages back and forth.

My responses to your chats/messages will be return as much effort as your initial ones to me.