might be a good idea to get rid of that beard! makes you look older than you probably are

@Hobartian I'm not worried about it that much. If they can't take me as I am, then forget it. I'm not desperate.

Well we can at least talk. I am looking for someone who is 100% real

@angelwings I was being flippant with that comment. Due to circumstances, the very few single women I know IRL are too young for me. I've met a few online, but nothing's worked out. And on this site, everyone lives so far away from me, that there's not much danger of anything developing. But I do enjoy talking. A mental relationship, while not ideal, is always welcome.

Oh! you seem like an elitist ! glad you can come down to our kindergarten standards - and of course, we wouldn't understand your higher thoughts. Is that really what you meant?

@Hobartian I can't get caught up in things like sport, celebrity gossip and such, I don't race home at night to turn on the idiot box. I go to work and people talk about a football grand final or reality tv and I have no idea or care about what they are talking about. I smile and exit as soon as I can. To me none of that is real. So in answer to the original question, yes, I find a lot of difficulty finding people who are real, people who live in the real world and worry about real issues.

@Rugglesby Look, I'd really like to chat with you - everything you say rings a bell. I have zero interest in sport, gossip etc. Since I live in Australia, we could be online friends. I have few friends so I'd like that. I mean, where do you live? things like that, what DO you like?

@Hobartian I am up on the NSW/Qld border, 1/2 way between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, can see Byron and almost see the Gold Coast on a clear day. Certainly, I am always up for a good conversation, I like hearing others ideas. What I do workwise is confusing, my nomenclature is Sustainability Coach, but on any given day my duties are pretty much what I feel like doing, working with school kids, gardening, developing local electricity girds, a bit of everything. Out of work, much the same, but with a lot of beach activities thrown in. I'll send you a message.

@Rugglesby Just to say, amazing, I felt sure you were in USA. I know the area where you live. Until 4 years ago I lived in Maleny area, north of Brisbane. couldn't stand the heat/humidity any longer, have family in Tas so here I am and quirt happy about that.

@Hobartian I lived and worked at Noosa in the 70s, and surfed the Sunny coast for decades. know the area well, love Kondalilla Falls.

@Rugglesby OK, we'll talk again. In the last couple of days I've met two people with whom I have much in common. The other one lives in Pottsville - he knows Maleny well, and knows my friends there. It's a small world.

@Hobartian nope, sadly that's me.