Charleyboy, 71

I love to design and make beautiful things out of wood. I love tea, I super-love almonds (and everything made with them), I've had my own woodworking business in Houston for 26 years, tools are cool and I have lots of them.

Nutrition, cooking, yoga, meditation, exercise are all important to me; psychology and the mind's role in enhancing and maintaining health and wellness are subjects of great interest; I never tire observing nature, and birds have a special place in my heart---even the commonest birds provide me endless delight; Trees, large and old, living and dead, standing or fallen have always given me a feeling of awe and amazement; Animals are wonderful, dogs are great, but the older I become the more I love and appreciate cats.

I'm a moderate man that understands that I don't have all the answers. I believe that it's possible to learn from anyone no matter their age or education level. The rigid labels available to describe one's religion on this site are by necessity quite limiting---sometimes I want to put 'agnostic', sometimes 'on a spiritual path'. It's something that's not static or 'straight line'. Spiritual development is a complex process that involves different stages with ebb and tide among them. I feel most spiritual when alone in nature, while exercising, and during episodes of creative improvisation.

I'm quite sensitive and fairly intolerant to prejudice and bigotry. I'm very interested in the way people think and how they deal with the discomfort of truth and hypocrisy. I believe in the value and importance of writing for the development of our thinking ability and as a great form of therapy for emotional trauma.

Bicycling, hiking, nature(especially bird-watching), yoga, mild weight-lifting, meditation, cooking, woodworking, photography, spanish, 'panning for gold' in used book stores, personal growth, communication, psychology, natural lifestyle, music, art, learning new things.