Jay Mansel

Hey, excellent people.  The other day I was out driving my boat in the early morning and saw the coolest shooting star.  You know, the kind that breaks apart as it streaks across the sky.  I was thinking it would have been cool to say, "Hey, look!"  ...but the dolphins don't speak English as far as I know.  Then I was thinking... Ya know who does speak English?  Lots of women.
So, I'm here looking for one.  Don't need a lot of them.  One is good.  🙂  I also Speak Spanish, some French, and some German...
Anyway, I just turned 50, I grew up in North America, but live in an island community in Panama (Caribbean side) (which is why I have boats, not a car).  I moved down here because I was feeling squeezed by all the rules and regulations up north, and there's much more freedom here.  Also, my boat is solar/human powered.  I build all my boats myself.  I say that because it says a lot about the kind of person I am.  I prefer to do things myself rather than pay money for things.  (One of the reasons I didn't fit in in North America).
I also think our bodies are our most valuable possessions, so I get lots of exercise, and eat well.  Giving up cake after a youth full of sugar was tough, but feeling good is totally worth it.  Funny thing, now overly sweet things taste gross.  I'd love it if we can be active together.  How do ya feel about morning exercises?  Great way to start the day, right!?  No alarm clock needed.  Just the sun coming through the windows.  (Shudders at the thought of an alarm clock)
I have kids, and would love to have more.  I realize that creates an age constraint.  ...and I wouldn't want to have more children if my health was in question at all.  At this point, I figure I have one more chance to create a loving family.  I know that's not the cool thing to do these days with all the excitement and drama being encouraged, ...but that's what I want.  I want decades of reliable, sometimes even boring cooperation.  I want our excitement to come from amazing things we do and build together.  
When I say cooperation, I mean that.  We work together.  I am a natural leader, and I'm comfortable in that role, but I'm not interested in being an authoritarian, so if you're a "brat" who needs constant threat of punishment, I'm not the right guy.  I'd rather earn your trust in me.  As for our roles, it really depends on who we are, but I see roles more as responsibilities.  For instance, if I'm in charge of the heavy lifting, and you're in charge of making dinner that means we are in charge of making sure those things happen.  I can still offer to make dinner, and you can come out and shovel gravel.  ..and a lot of the time we can do things together.  ....cuz it's fun.
Anyway, what else.  I'm homesteading here.  ...built my house, building a 2nd house right now, growing food, fishing, etc.  I get meat from a local farm that drives it right up to my beach.
I'm 6'1'', about 200lbs, and look just like the guy in these pictures.  (I'll add some recent pictures)
One last thing. As outdoorsy people, a lot of us don't spend a lot of time online, so feel free to mention me to someone you might know who fits the bill, and isn't online.  
OK, Have a great day ,everyone!
Jaimie
PS.  Yes, I'm real... As an ice breaker, tell me something you liked about what I wrote here.

OK, here's the problem with what you're proposing.  ....and the problem with dating sites in general.  It's a $100 annual fee... what's the incentive for you to be successful in setting people up.  Al you do is lose a customer.  No one wants to endlessly be subscribing for a service like this for years.

If you found me someone that I actually click with, and we seriously get together I'd give you $10,000 and think it a good deal.  If you got paid for success, that would set you apart from al the others.

ris steele wrote:haha so true!

i don't post a bunch of other stuff on permies either for the same reason.

Ha.  Yeah.  Sun's up.  Stuff to do.  

I've been told, and seen other people being told that if they want to meet someone here they should post in lots of forums, not just the singles one.
My question is, "Who has time for that???"
I'm standing here at my computer covered in wood bits taking a 5 minute break before I get into something else that will take the rest of the day.  In the evenings the last thing i want to do is read about other peoples hard work.  Don't get me wrong.  I do love it.  I wouldn't trade this type of life for anything.  OK, back to work!

Jaimie

Amélie Langlois wrote:Hi Jay,

I've been looking into this forum for years now, for fun more than anything else, always noticing that  almost everyone who posts have a project and wants to invite a new parter to join them.
But I have my own project too, in Bocas. Are you around there?

Hi, Amelie.  Yeah, it does seem that a lot of people have their own projects started, and are looking for someone to join.  When I think about how I was before starting, I can understand it.  I didn't want to join someone elses operation.  I wanted to do it myself.    Anyway, yes.  I live in the same area.  I'll send you a message...

Sorry I just figured out how to reply.

You’re right, this lifestyle attracts vagrants and other unstable people who use this lifestyle as a means of escapism from their pre existing neuroses and other murky stuff going on in their psyche. They don’t know how to function in any society, they just think that running away and role-playing as pioneers will mask that.

For me it’s always been about presence. I want to live away from modern society not because I cannot function in it, I do pretty ok.. but because it’s just not conducive the our spiritual and mental well-being.

Over the years of trying to build a community, it seems that all the competent, capable, sane people are doing their own thing.  We're scattered all over the world, mostly isolated from each other.  I think if i knew many years ago what I know now I'd have look into joining someone more seriously.  Tricky thing is that joining someone else feels like losing independence, and there's something to prove to oneself being able to do it alone.  ...perhaps its too much vanity.  Either way, I love my place here.  It's better than I'd hoped.  I have some ok neighbors... just no one who's really into self sufficiency, and all that stuff.

Misuzu Henderson wrote:Thank you for the link! I will be watching it today. And, I’m sorry it took long to reply! I didn’t know there was a reply here… still not used to how to use this site. I feel exactly same what you feel about kids. My kids eyes glued on their phones is making me depressed…

You're the parent.  Don't let them glue their eyeballs to phones.  Think of it like crack cocaine.  You wouldn't let them do crack, right?