Oh I don't want to leave an impression that there is something wrong with someone that hasn't been married before and I also have a friend who met "the one" shortly after she turned 40. They also have a little boy and are very happy. It's just for me right now, I need that common experience of the devastation of separation/divorce. It's entirely possible that in a few years it won't matter to me - and I may even start viewing crazy ex's and children as too much baggage and start looking for NMNK guys. I have no desire for remarriage and I don't really see that changing. If I find someone who I want to have a long term, more permanent relationship with I think I would prefer to live together than get married.

I would most definately require any future spouse to read His Needs, Her Needs.

I am not going though this He|| again.

Good point, Pariah...

BTW - I'm a parrot-head too <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I started with 2 conures, blue crowns - love 'em. They live at my shop where I spend most of my waking hours. Then people started giving me their unwanted birds... I rescued a big sad B&G macaw... a parakeet even flew up to me outside in the parking lot one day. Between the unwanted, rejected, foundlings and things that started reproducing, I ended up with about 12 birds at one point... managed to re-home all but my original 2, and helped the rest find suitable homes, including the very neurotic macaw who had no primary feathers when I got him - he was so stressed he chewed them all off. Now he's back in full feather and living large with a nice man nearby and I get regular pictures and progress reports and the occasional visit <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

At the risk of a thread-jack... tell me about your 'too! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

When you're a 'bird person' any person you date has to understand that dynamic - and sometimes the bird will become possessive or jealous or be downright hostile toward your significant other - but I've also found that birds, like other animals (dogs especially) are a good judge of character.

I have an eclectic mix of pets... 2 cats, dog, 2 birds, and 4500 or so gallons of fish <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (I own an aquarium store)... in my case, B is very interested in what I do, which is a plus because I'm very into what I do - it's a passion. Anyone who doesn't get that about me won't last long, because I pretty much live and breathe what I do.

I ask B a lot of questions about his line of work too - it's nice to have that as a big difference - gives us lots to talk about. I met XH working with him and we've spent most of our years together working together (and still work together on a limited basis at the shop), and the last gentleman I was involved with came from the same line of work - different venue, but he'd worked in the retail end of it too. I'm actually finding that talking about *other* kinds of work and such is very refreshing. There are things we all deal with that are similar (high-maintenance customers etc.) that we have in common but the differences in the jobs we do gives us good things to talk about.

JinGA

Big Boobs
Blonde hair. . .

oh wait, MB requirements. . . .

1) travels light, (doesn't pack the entire house)
2) willing to try new, physically safe, activities. . .
3) emotionally brave, such as hopping in an RV and driving for two weeks with each other's kids, who have never seen each other before
4) doesn't mind going to a few sporting events. . . Olympics are always a great way to travel and see other cultures, (she has, I haven't)
5) can discuss opposing points of view without getting mad or frustrated that i don't agree with her. . .

6) willing to trust and / or admire that i have multiple talents and interests. . . (have lots of handy man experience, lots of intellectually challenging experiences, lots of physical experiences, and do read for learning and not for escape)
7) and realize that I have emotional needs that when met, i can be as loyal as a puppy dog!

wiftty

I've been formulating response....not ready yet.

Jin, my cockatoo is extremely bonded to my GF, so much more than she ever was with my wife.

However my cockatoo will climb over the chair and hop into my lap and say gimme a kiss and then kiss me, then jump back over to GF and continue cuddling.

It's as if she doesn't want to leave me out, or thanking me for a loving home environment now.

She's no longer in that he||hole of an aviary away from the family with no contact. Only finches to keep her company.

Sounds cute <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My conures are pretty friendly - well socialized at the shop - they'll go to just about anybody - not sure if that's good or bad <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A client of mine wants to give me her Senegal parrot - well socialized verbally - but hasn't been handled in about 3 years. Why do I love a challenge so much?

JinGA

... all you bird lovers!
Not ready to date, though D final 8/30/07. But about those birds .....
We had finches ever since DS was 5 yrs old. society finches. They don't live very long. Whenever one passed on, we bought a new one. In about a day, they had made friends, every time. They are gentle, quiet, timid creatures and they get very stressed if handled. We lived with not handling them, and DS learned to empathize with the animal rather than demand being able to hold them.

We used to visit a store that sold birds, just to enjoy them. After cleaning our hands, we went around to the most sociable ones and offered our hands and shoulders to them.

I would never own a large bird, due to the emotional nature of the creature. I am 60 yrs old today. It is likely I will go before the bird; and any animal is a lifelong responsibility.

Years ago I knew people who kept a parrot in the basement of a department store. Weekdays there were customers around, but Polly stayed there weekends. One sunday I visited and felt so sorry for Polly. 3 days alone.

Everyone else shopped. (Our friend was the manager). I poured out attention and scratched Polly's head. wanted to take him home. (Couldn't.)

They are wonderful. Even the ones that try to bite you.

Okay, here's a requirement for a man I would date: He must be kind to animals.

I've always had a soft spot for birds. Any kind.
Every spring I wind up raising a couple of nestlings that were the last out. I just can't allow them to needlessly die.

Last month I took an injured Hawk to the rehab center after it was hit by a car. What a magnificent creature to get to hold.

Anyways, is this a spoiled 'too or what?

http://home.comcast.net/~wltison/PICTURES/snuggle.jpg

Yep, that's spoiled <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> What kind of 'too? I used to babysit a bare-eyed too now and then - he was a trip.

My BF isn't really into birds - he likes to feed the wild ones outside his window, but he's not really keen on my birds - but he doesn't dislike them either.

He's allergic to cats too - I've got 2 (birds live at the shop, cats and dog at home)... although my house doesn't make him sneeze (yet)... one cat is 19 and the other is 5 - the younger cat will move out with DD when she comes of age and moves out. No more cats after that - I decided that long before B came around. At 19 it's a love/hate thing with my old cat LOL!

But yes, a requirement is for a man to love animals and at least 'understand' how I am about them - particularly because I work in the pet industry. I deal in aquatics but I'm extremely passionate about that and some folks wouldn't understand that. B really appreciates that about me and he's entering the saltwater/reefkeeping hobby. He's kept freshwater in the past, and turtles... he's setting up a small tank and he's been devouring books <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Looks like I have another 'convert' to the hobby!

Pariah - I've done rehab/rescue volunteer work too - back home had a large aviary cage and I'd foster anywhere from 200-400 fledglings every summer (30 or so at a time, every few days)... handfeeding was like a scene from a Hitchcock movie - and I picked up a Great Horned Owl from a Humane Society to bring to the rehab center ... it had to be put down - nerve damage <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> So sad.

Sorry - veering off topic again.... get onto birds, I get carried away <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

JinGA

very spoiled, very cute.