This is way out of my comfort zone and so please bear with me. I am originally from India but lived in the UK for a long time before moving to the San Francisco bay area for work. I was lucky enough to travel to over 30 countries for work and pleasure prior to the pandemic. I really consider myself a citizen of the world! I am fascinated by the differences in culture, traditions and cuisines from around the world. A fictional wise wizard once said “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open”.

I have been blind since birth due to a congenital condition. But I learnt to live, adapt and be as independent as I can. If you are curious about how blind people use computers and smartphones or anything else, checkout the funny Tommy Edison Youtube channel.

During the pandemic, I have been trying to learn to play the keyboard that has been collecting dust. I enjoy almost any type of music, Bollywood, reggae, classical (Western and Indian), pop, country, Irish folk, basically anything with a good rhythm but leave me out of heavy metal. I am a voracious reader. Growing up in India as a blind kid, I didn't have access to much reading material in alternate formats and so I guess I am catching up. I am a huge Harry Potter fan but don’t think I am a real Potterhead. I haven’t watched Harry Potter and the Cursed Child yet. Want to go with me when it is back in the theater? Stand up comedy is another thing I am interested in. I want to be in the audience of Stephen Colbert’s late show at some point.

With my friend’s help, I am also building an N scale model railroad layout in my garage. I am a complete train nerd. So much so that I gifted myself a sleeper cabin on the Amtrak California Zephyr from the bay area to Denver for my 40th birthday. I am reliably told that the views are amazing on this leg of the journey.

I am very inquisitive and curious about everything that the world has to offer. I'm also an introvert but a great listener. I am happy to have a conversation but cool with companionable silence as well. My 2 BFFs can vouch for my loyalty as a friend. I am open-minded and non-judgemental. I would like my friends and relations to be non-judgemental as well. No smokers though. Does that make me judgemental? But my excuse is that smoking is not only bad for you but people around you. Same thing for COVID precautions and vaccinations. No one has a freedom or right to put a fellow citizen at risk. I am fully vaccinated and I expect you to be as well.

I want to get back to traveling again. There is so much of the world that I still have to experience. The Pacific Northwest and Yellowstone in the US, the Caribbean and South America as well as Australia and New Zealand. I haven’t been to Africa yet. I haven’t taken a long road trip in the US either.

I would love to meet new people. Let’s be acquaintances, friends, travel buddies or something deeper if there is a spark/connection. If you are local to the SF bay area, which is a strong preference, let’s explore new cafes/restaurants or go on a walk/hike. I promise I won't bore you too much. When I was living in London, we had a blind walkers club and we would partner with local hiking clubs and go on 10 mile walks in summer! I have a small treadmill at home but it is not the same at all! I am not ruling out long distance connections but like to be able to meet in person at some point soon and on a regular basis. I am not really keen on online-only friendships/relationships. Endless texting without actually meeting in person/video isn’t my thing either.

If there are any tandem cycling enthusiasts here, would you please talk to me? I went on a couple of tandem bike rides (again when I was living in the UK) as a stoker and I loved it. I am considering buying a tandem if I can find friends who can volunteer to be my pilots.

For complete disclosure, I have just gone through a painful separation and finalizing the divorce. Although I am not opposed to romantic relationships, that is not the only intention of this post. I have been living in the bay area for 5 years now but realized I haven't really made an effort to build a network of friends and acquaintances in the area. Prior to the pandemic, work and work-related travel kept me very busy. My network of friends/acquaintances also revolved around my work. Now that we are emerging out of the pandemic plus the divorce, I am trying to overcome my introverted nature and get out and about more.

I do hope my ramblin post hasn’t bored you to death. There is so much that I need to learn and experience. I hope you will join me in this journey.