I go out. I go to art walks in near by cities. I go to events that I am interested in. I do a lot of things with my daughter song end up metting single mothers. I meet people at my job all the time since I entertain people with environmental classes they sign up for. Most of them end up being religious. Meeting people online seems way harder.

I thought the Christians would be the biggest group? My grandmother was a protestant bit she told me long ago that there were not many left and they are all basically Christian? It's just the town I'm in. I need to move.

@Artistlover protestants are christians

We seem to have the religion/gun disease ... bad !

This is I interesting. I assumed that all religions sent some people out to convert. I assumed this happened everywhere. Yeah I get people that ask me if I have accepted god or Jesus into my heart and they continue on about how they want to save my soul from a burning hell etc etc. I use to argue with them when I was a teenager but I let it all go over my head now and just humour them quickly and I'm out.

Yes, it is a sad reality in the US right now. It feels like a holly war of the US. And, not to get into politics, but present government is not helping the situation. I have very hard time finding people who would not be affiliated with some kind of church. From my experience even the so called "non denominational" churches try to suck you in by telling you how tollerant they are about other religions. Europe is not like that with exeption of one or two countries right now.

@evergreen Well, except that I am a gun toting Atheist. So, there's that!!

@Normanbites Like I said ...

I know I was in North Carolina for a while and pretended I was Christian for an easy life. I can’t imagine how the non-Christians sustain it.

Yes that's true. Stay away from anything organized. Be independent or else they want you to think like them. I have dated women who are not religious though they believe in god and the subject never came up. It was not a problem but lately I'm meeting these people who can't have one conversation without saying things like "that's why we must have Jesus in our hearts" It doesn't bother me but I know that's a red flag and I humour them so I don't disrespect them and move on in my head.

Did those dating sites ever work? I hear most have fake profiles to get more memberships. Whatever happened to being able to freely look up random People. It seems like they have it blocked or something. I use to meet people on MySpace by the culture by typing in a band and female and single and the area. Can't do that on facebook facebook or Myspace anymore. The dating sites have some control. If you want to meet locals online you have to look up events you like and see who is going. That's better than a dating site. Like a rock show for example. Or whatever your into.

@Artistlover Never worked for me. But I did meet some ages ago on AOL when I was a remote host. Married for a few years until problems developed. But that wasn't a dating site. I'm just going to be happy using meetup.com to go do things as a group and be done with it. My problems with the dating sites were not fake profiles but was a series of types of men that use those sites. I'm sure men run into the same thing with their own types. But it's to their benefit for you to remain on their site....not to succeed.

@Larimar an ex of mine says she has had luck finding relationships on them but then she said as a woman she was so swamped by men and it's so over whelming that you don't even want to read them at all. I swear it's actually harder to meet people online than it is to meet people by going out to events you like within your culture. This site is good to weed out the god fearers which is why I found it. I meet a lot of people but mist are religious.

@Artistlover #1 it depends upon your definition of success. #2 she was probably younger than I am....the older one is the worse it is on the sites #3 Weeding out at my age can get downright depressing and I refuse to live that way. Life's too short...I'l go out and enjoy it however I can.

Yeah I feel you. Thanks for the advice. It's not all of Florida. But it's definitely these small towns where the people have never left. Generations upon generations of brain washing and I definitely don't ever want to try to change anyone's mind. I respect them for their beliefs but I wish I could know sooner. Sometimes you talk to someone for days or weeks and you don't know they are believers because they just don't talk about it. Im not settling on the fact that they are subtle with it because to me something is seriously off with them. I don't ever argue or get political. I just stick with my thing, usually that's simply art and nature. I would move but I want to be near my 8 year old daughter. I'm kind of hoping that this site will connect me with more atheists etc and I won't have to ask them their beliefs. Thanks for your reply

I never gave it a thought that there are athiest organizations. Makes since though. I never really thought of it. Yeah Florida gets the two that everyone here is a retiree and a lot are bit we have great beaches and where there are great beaches there are also lots of young people. I'm just in a rural area with a small town. Im use to Miami and LA but I moved here thinking i would be fine as long as I could focus on my art without distractions. The reality is as an artist i need those distractions to be inspired. So I have decided to move to a cool hip town only an hour away, Saint Augustine. It's the best I can do at the moment. It's halfway to Jacksonville a very cool city and Orlando is about and hour and half. So yeah it's just the area I need to change. Thanks for your reply.

I will keep that in mind. I go art shows. Sometimes rock shows. Sometimes events that have to do with growing plants.

That's it. You can't reveal yourself in this town. Everyone knows everyone and they all go to church. That's not a problem but these type of religious people here will stop you frombgetting a higher position at your job, let you go etc. People say oh well you can sue them. Your not going to know why because they are not going to say it to you. I don't really worry about that though I do know that's happens. You are right about these sites. This is what I am hoping for. To weed through the having to ask about their beliefs. Someone was saying I should wear an Atheist shirt. I would never want to disrespect these people. I just want to find the ones that have the same beliefs because the time you spend getting to know someone is such a waste when after a few weeks they ask you to go to church with them and their family.

Another site? That's cool

For Over-60ish people

You are right. I do think about moving but I my daughters mother is getting comfortable in this town since I gave her and her new boyfriend my house and land. They were going to move to Saint Augustine and I'm hoping I can still somehow convince them to. I have been going to Saint Augustine art walks every month and I'm working my way into getting to know the local artists at least and be part of a community rather than wandering around and not knowing a soul.

@Artistlover kids! That makes it more difficult.

@GreatNani yeah but in that since they can either not be involved or be involved with my kids. I can go either way. I always said I won't date then if they don't accept my kids but then again I only have my daughter half the time now. So sometimes I look like I don't have kids and I notice I meet more women with no kids and when I'm with the kids I meet more women who have kids. But then they ask you what Church do you go to. I fade out generously

@Artistlover yes! Fade out is the right thing to do you will meet someone. And the only thing they have to like is kids. They don't have to have any, just have to like them.

@GreatNani I have actually met women who just don't like kids at all. That bothers me. Even an ex long ago never liked kids. Now she has two girls and she is going off to school for 2 years here and 2 years there and contract medical jobs out of state. I could never do that. It's hard for me to date anyone who can leave their kids behind for 2 years. I don't want that energy anywhere near my kids. I thought I could date her on the side since she said she never forgot me and she's single now but I can't get past how she talks about her won kids. She loves them but doesn't care to be present for them that often. She does calk them and she will be leaving a fortune behind for them like her dad did for her but they are just 8 and 9 years old. They need mama. I faded out and stopped communicating so often. She was calling me weekly for a while and she is a real cutie but I just can't. I feel some negative energy in her and that shit is contagious.

@Artistlover well that is not surprising about the negative energy. If she grew up neglected like that it makes sense she would do the same. Sad for her kiddos.

I've observed that some people who describe themselves as "Christian" are using it as a cultural reference. Some are open-minded and some are combative. I tolerate as much religiosity as I can, but even I (who has very few choices) can only take so much.

Yes I can't deal with people who are prude and against sex. It's not healthy. If they have issues with sex they never tell you till your being seductive and romantic and they shut you down. That's OK. I have the right to walk away but then they want you deal with that and say hoe I am wrong and that I should be with them and not be so sexual. People don't understand their selves or their sexuality be sure they only understand what a book tells them to do. Be ashamed of them selves. It's so wrong. I want a healthy animalistic relationship that endures all our natural senses and not have to be ashamed.

@Artistlover I had one offer to let me hang around with her if I gave her free tutoring. They REALLY believe they are holy!

It's not unreasonable. What I got from it is exactly true. Make as many friends as possible and become an aquIntance as much as possible to many people in many circled and you expand the chances. If not then you are either a stranger or unnoticeable. I say find a few places that you like to got to or would like to go to where your culture or people are hanging out. Introduce yourself to anyone out there and and they will remember you and maybe you hit a similar interest and even better used a similar interest to strike up a conversation. Not the next time you go there or the next week you are a familiar face to at least a few people. Walk up and. Say hello and start some small talk. If they say hi and walk away after a few words that's OK. People are socially busy. Meet more people that night and so on. At some point you will called into a circle and someone will introduce you to some of their friends. Be a social butterfly. That's how it works. If a woman notices you but is very shy she may never let you know butshe will let her friends know and they will say oh I know that guy. Want me to introduce you or at least go up to you and tell you to go talk to her. So many ways it can work but the best watch's like you said to meet as many people and break into other circles. I make friends with the guys first this way no-one feels like I am a threat and this way you find out who is single and who is not. Chances are you will find out who is a religious freak even though they are at a show that Christians would normally not be at. You really have to find out or ask at least but don't be rude and close the door to that circle. I have Been in an 8 years relationship and now I'm getting out there again after 8 months. Thanks for the reminder because I kind of forget after so long and getting back out there eat age 45 is totally different thN when I was 30. That's how youbdonit though like you said. Meet as many people as possible. You don't have to walk right up to a woman you are attracted to right off the bat though if you do that's OK too butvthen you look like the charmer and the girls start talking and saying "twanged Hutton me too" and hit on so and so as well. Still it does work but once your talked about in a certain circle you are still on the outside of the circle. You want t be in the circles so make the friends with as many as possible. You are correct

Thank for writing a bunch and the advice. You like me I actually try to help someone instead of showing off social internet skills with a play of words and emojis. I do appreciate all positive comments though. I'm not really desperate for a relationship. I actually went on a couple of dates and realized that I can't do this because I have little time with juggling my daughter, my job and trying to get my art career and business back up and running. When I do that and I have a February ready or not deadline then I will just let go and start making time for dating. It's been 9 months for me and I do need to move on. As an artist i feel like a rock star. I did before I met my ex who slowly controlled everything that git me attention from the ladies even though I was dedicated to her. I stopped my art eventually. I cut my long hair. I moved out of LA back to Florida south Florida and worse North Florida. I was no longer going to art walks and i lost myself and moved into a town where the culture here is not diverse at all. My biggest issue is where I live for sure so you hit the nail on the head with that one.

I generally let things flow and don't let them know I am Atheist right off the bat but I also don't wait too long. There have been tines in my past when I when I have met a religious girl A ctually while in Alabama and she was not so worried about sinning in bed. So yeah your right it may not matter that much for some of them being somewhat religious. It's just that here they are very adamant about telling you they just can't date a man who does not have Jesus in the life and every conversation ends with Jesus and god. Man I just can't look past it anymore.

I'm going to take your advice and do what I normally do. I'm getting my artist look back. I'm painting again and making art so when I show I do have that about me. I feel like I belong there instead of the guy who is wandering around and not knowing anyone. I make friends quick with artists because they have a local community. I. Taking about Saint Augustine and I mean that more than half the people are tourists so walking up to anyone is not a good idea. You have to find your culture and your local scene and make friends with everyone. This way you can find out respectfully whorish single without having to embarrass yourself hitting on the ladies in a relationship.

I'm going to move and recreate my self all over again. Not being fake. Just having a look and a style. My image. My art (which is what I do). My Look, my culture because right now I'm a park ranger and I look like a military guy (who is the gardener). The ladies like flowers so that's a win. With some if them anyways. My style so I can look good and most of all getting back to the "me" that I lost for the past 8 years. The good thing about the art scene is that artists are all ages. I'm older now but that's good.

You are absolutely right. Just because they have the same belief as me as a naturalist, atheist etc doesn't mean they are sain. They could be the wrong type of person in many other ways. Thank you for your reply.

Same here. The conversation goes so well and they seem so smart. Independent and educated even about science and then they hit you with the question. Sometimes I want to walk backwards and not say a word but I'm not that guy. I'm always polite and I just humor them.

Nope

Yeah I should have moved to Seattle long ago. I lived in California for several years as a full time artist and my life was great. I came to visit Florida after a friend died and got stuck here again. I do love Florida but not this town. I would move but I have my daughter near by and that's more important to me. I do get out of town and go to all the art walk in surrounding cities like Jacksonville, Saint Augustine and Gainesville. If I do meet someone there it's a 1 to 2 hour drive there each time.