I am a retired college professor with a house and land in beautiful NW GA. My question concerns ways to meet someone with whom to share my corner of paradise. I have scanned 'personals' on line but found nothing useful. Is there a country lovers personal site I may have overlooked? I don't go to church (too many fire & brimstone sermons as a child) where I might otherwise meet someone who shares my values. Also, I go into town only as needed. What do others do in my situation? I am financial secure, love nature and am considered to be a good and loving person. All comments or any advice will be welcome. Please respond either through the Forum or directly to me. Thanks.

-- Delwin D. Cahoon (dcahoon@ellijay.com), August 05, 2000

Answers

Delwin:

If you are going to go fishing, it helps to go to a pond which has fish in it. Find a good-sized church you can tolerate and then participate in the social activities. I'd bet when the older women find out you are an eligible bachelor they will be testing the water for you. Do volunteer work at a hospital which puts you in contact with the nursing staff. Let it be know among your friends you are interested in meeting someone for social occasions. Just make sure they understand your requirements (age, height, weight, personality, kids at home, etc.) I have been set up with some blind dates on which I don't know who was more disappointed, me or her. Consider teaching some adult night classes. You gotta look for the best stocked pond in your area.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), August 05, 2000.

I agree 100% with Ken. Bend a little. If you really want a partner, look for her at church. Just like anywhere else, you will have to sift through some hypocrits, liars, losers and bad apples. But the odds are in your favor that you will meet a wonderful woman who shares your values - and she might even understand the negative childhood experiences you had with church - a lot of us had them. It is not necessarily that she will actually be in that church, but as the folks get to know you, the match maker (that is in us all) will kick in. The members of that congregation will be mentioning their friend or relative to you that they would like you to meet.

Yes, the world has lots of wonderful, loving, and Godly people who never darken the door of a church, but the odds are slim that you will stumble onto one of them on your own.

It is not that the best people are in church - far from it. It is about getting serious about finding a good person to be with. I always want to be in a state where God can bless my project - whatever it is. Finding a mate is an honorable project.

-- homestead2 (homestead@monroecty.net), August 05, 2000.

Drive a nail and build a future. Volunteer ! Maybe the answer to your problem is as close as your phone book ? Try --Habitat for Humanity. I would guess that you wouldn't meet one--you would have a flock to choose from ?

-- Joel (Joel681@webtv.net), August 05, 2000.

Excuse me? The last time someone was writing the forum looking for love and was openly gay everyone blasted them. Now because this person is not openly gay, and is "looking for someone" this is some how worth answering? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 05, 2000.

Hello Everyone! Have recently been following the forums and enjoy them immensely. Have especially enjoyed all the different viewpoints, secretly sharing the sad times, stewing over the aggravating issues: (more gun controls, crazy neighbors [good luck, Renee!], and getting a chuckle when I so badly needed one. However, I would think, (and I could certainly be wrong!) that a forum of like-minded, understanding, considerate, God loving/fearing (some of us), mature adults-ie-"family", would certainly understand someone wanting to share their life with another like-minded (key word here!) caring individual! Steve, do you possibly see an opportunity, or a "need" here? ( Not everyone wants to wait months to be published in the magazine .) Just wondering.......

-- dreambeliever (OneLadyhawke@netscape.net), August 05, 2000.

If you love nature and you are able, take up/pursue hiking, climbing, kayaking, river rafting, bird watching, cross country skiing, photography, orienteering, spieklunking (sp?), mountain biking, horseback riding, volksmarching, whatever! But I especially recommend hiking! Travel to do so if you have to! I was amazed at how many single women were hiking/climbing solo in the Rockies when we were there last week! (So were the guys I was hiking with! I was the only female, and I think my companions were "lonely" Yeah, right!) ;)

Join the Mountaineers, or anything to do with outdoors, and get active if you can. Good luck! Worst case, you'll get be in shape and enjoy nature to the max! Age doesn't seem to matter either.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 06, 2000.

Join clubs that share your intrests--like gardening, or or historical societies, or shooting clubs. Vollunter in something that you feel strongly about. And YES, find a church that feeds you soul, because part of your need is spiritual, too. And who know, you might find your spouse there, looking too. And if you don't, you'll still feel better.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), August 06, 2000.

Good Heavens! We are just all good friends here. I know that I ocasionally expouse political beliefs, and for that, I apologize. But this is mostly just folks who enjoy each other. Let's have fun, get political on occasion, get into morals when we must, but mostly just enjoy our divergence! Brad, the quite incredibly divergent.

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 08, 2000.