[JohnnyBravo]

Nothing about MLC today, but I'm in the midst of a four-day motorcycle trip, and am presently relaxing in a wigwam:

https://sleepinawigwam.com/

I've been pretty lucky with avoiding serious rain so far, but now I'm waiting for it to let up before I walk to dinner.

[MadLuv]

Well, how fun is that? Enjoy!!

[JohnnyBravo]

Happy Independence Day, Americans!

For no particular reason, High Steppin' by the Avett Brothers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwebrzEldA0

[JohnnyBravo]

Hi, all! Hope you're doing the best you can for the place you're in.

Ol' JB tried dipping into the dating pool, and I've come running back out. OK, it  wasn't that bad. In fact, I met a really great woman, but I was just looking for dating, going out and doing things, etc., and she was looking for something more serious. I just wasn't ready for that. And, I think there were a few other factors involved: She divorced five years ago, far longer than me. She is here for contract medical work (locum), so she has a lot of free time, whereas I do not, and have things I need to take care of in my off time. She also decided to move here not too long after we started dating, which blew my safety net of long-distance. And when I say "here," she's actually living about 75 minutes away, so it's not like we could just meet for dinner on short notice. All of these things seemed to make this ramp up faster than I was probably ready for. We did have a lot in common, and shared a number of interests.

I'm also mentally distracted by my plan to move into a smaller place closer to downtown, which is something I'm looking forward to and dreading at the same time. I think the act of moving is the "dreading" part, just because I fully settled into my current house, thinking this would be the forever home. (A feeling most of you are familiar with.) I was originally thinking of moving this fall, but I think I'm going to wait another year so I can boost my savings, and hopefully mortgage rates will stabilize and drop a little bit, too. (Wishful thinking!) Maybe after I move and settle in again, I'll be in a better headspace for relationships.

We made it about four months, and I think we parted on as good of terms as anyone can... She said she was glad to have met me, and I'm glad I met her, as it's good to know there are other decent people out there. And in my younger days, I probably would have said whatever I had to to keep a relationship going to avoid emotional discussions; now, I just face up to the fact that it's not working. Baby steps.

Now, I'm looking forward to cooler weather, and a long motorcycle trip in a couple of weeks. (I'm even taking an extra day to ride a historic steam train, because I'm a nerd like that.) I hope you all are doing well!

JB

[sachertorte]

You go Johnny! We are all rooting for you. I am also dipping my toes in the apps. You're ready when you're and only then. Very good of you not to compromise and not to string along. Cheers.

[MadLuv]

Sounding good JB. Maybe on a motorcycle trip you. An still meet up with your new friend for dinner as you pass through!!  It’s great you are dipping a little. I still cant. Not because I am not open to it, but I honestly don't know if I will ever want to get to know someone and there back story. People say leave that all in the past, but how do you know anyone in depth without knowing their full story and that takes so long. That part seems overwhelming to me. I wish I could also go out and just have dinner or a movie etc.  I have tried 2 males friendships and they could not stay in the friend zone. I guess you have to find the right person, with the same interests and also be in the same place in life. That sounds reasonable, NOT! Hahaha

[Nas]

but I honestly don't know if I will ever want to get to know someone and there back story. People say leave that all in the past, but how do you know anyone in depth without knowing their full story and that takes so long. That part seems overwhelming to me.

How interesting. That’s the part that sounds amazing and wonderful and interesting to me. Getting to know someone on a deep level and trusting them enough to let them know you on a deep level… I want nothing more.

[MadLuv]

Oh I agree, but after all this and a 30 year marriage I don’t think I have the energy or inclination to start over now at 61. If I was 40 maybe. I think my age has a huge part in it. I feel I spent 30 years with someone and they are not who I thought they were, so I think how do we know anyone or what they are capable of?  I guess if the right one comes along.

[JohnnyBravo]

I don't know why it never occurred to me to post this before, but if anyone wants to burn their gloom away, the Zozobra festival is a week from Friday. This was started by a Santa Fe artist in 1924, and has continued since. It is a 50' effigy named Zozobra, who is stuffed with people's bad memories and set alight to great fanfare. I haven't been yet, but I'll have to make sure I go for the 100th burning next year.

https://burnzozobra.com/

There's a history link for the back story, and if you go to the shop, you can pay $1 for your gloom message to be printed out and stuffed in Zozobra, of $5 to upload divorce papers/covid diagnosis/whatever else. The burning will be streamed online at koat.com. Definitely something with a lot of local flavor, if you're into that sort of thing. Probably a good place for a HS meetup someday...

JB

[JohnnyBravo]

While I'm on a roll...

Today is the anniversary of the Baltic Way (1989), a human chain connecting the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, in protest of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Way

The end of the chain in Vilnius is marked by a tile in Cathedral Square that says "Stebuklas" (miracle). Which goes to show you, miracles can happen, but you have to work for them.

JB