Let's get the less fun stuff out of the way first. I promise it won't take long and will be totally worth it later:

I have depression and struggle daily with mental illness. I have an excellent therapist I see regularly, and invest a lot of time in working on my self-esteem and other issues, but it's a journey.

I'm fairly socially isolated; I have a couple of friends who I see rarely and a sister I love to hang out with, but spend most of my free time alone. I'd like for this to change.

I have worked my whole life but am currently unemployed, mostly due to the above and also just generally being sick of the world and how cold and unfeeling it can be. Maybe it's midlife crisis? I never really expected to be around this long so who knows. I'm now trying to find a way to exist that doesn't rely on the vagaries of capitalism but this is no easy task as I'm sure many of you are aware.

I live with my mother who has MS, and am finding it increasingly necessary to be there to support her. At the moment it's not such a big deal but it's unlikely I'll be able be to consider living away from her in future unless some quite drastic changes happen.

If none of that turned you away, first of all thank you. It's hard to share all of that with people and still feel like a person deserving of love, compassion and friendship underneath it all.

Some less negative things about me then:

I'm highly creative. I enjoy music, play the bass guitar, write, paint, draw, and sometimes make odd things out of junk and other bits and pieces. Big foodie too, I can cook and bake though rarely do either unless for someone else. Flavour over health. Fried food is a gift from the heavens.

I love nature and being outside exploring it. Take me to the woods and let me roam free and I'm happy as a toadstool. Mycology and microbiology bring me joy. 420-friendly, which I guess goes as well here as anywhere else.

I'm a huge nerd in other ways as well: Gaming, sci-fi, fantasy, astronomy, board games etc. All the usual things you would expect. If you have any nerdy interests I'm sure we'd have a lot to talk about.

That being said, I prefer listening to talking. So if you're happier being the more active participant of a conversation, or are particularly adept at drawing introverts out of their shell, that would work out well. Share your photos of cool things you saw, tell me anecdotes and spill your secrets, or jump on discord with me and I'll watch you play a favourite game and cheer you on.

I'm a deeply spiritual person, and follow my own personal path made up of an amalgamation of different ideas I've picked up and beliefs I've developed. Like a kind of soul-soup, if you like. I can read tarot, know a fair bit of theology and believe in something like magic. I can't see the moon without wanting to stop and chat with her for a bit, and more than one of my tattoos were done with specific spiritual intent. Ideally you would be similarly open-minded and free-wheeling when it comes to the unknowable truths of life.

I'd love to talk to anyone, whether you're looking to make a new friend, start a new project you think I could help with or are considering seeking a new romance. Or anything else at all. Whatever happens, happens, but I'm not seeking any particular kind of relationship. I prefer good communication of emotions and experiences over relying on specific labels, for myself generally and within the relationships I have. I'd love to find love, of course. Who wouldn't?

Arguably less important but still potentially relevant stuff:

5' 7"

Tattoos & piercings

Can drive and own a car

Intellectually and emotionally intelligent

Weird sleep schedules - I don't enjoy routine, it frustrates rather than calms me. I much prefer waking up not knowing what the day will bring. For this reason I'm happy to hear from you regardless of your TZ. I can and will adapt to you if necessary

Also some pics:

Me

My beautiful, deformed son who you must also love

Goodness that's a lot of GRIM REALITY for the weekend. Well done you, if you got this far. You've already invested this much so you might as well send me a message, right?