At 49, I still find myself seeking the possibility of the intense emotional connection that a relationship offers. Does that make me a hopeless romantic? I think ?hopeful romantic? would be a more apt description and I also believe that most people don't dream enough. Although I certainly dream of a loving and committed relationship, I haven't lived my life in a dream world. I worked hard in my career. I live comfortably, not lavishly. I am in the enviable position of not really wanting any material things that I don't have. Please don't misunderstand ? I don't have a boat or a vacation home, I am simply satisfied with the material things that I do have. I still have goals however and one of those goals is to find the last and lasting love of my life. I believe it is fair to say that the lessons I have learned from past relationships have brought me to a place where I am more able to be a loving partner than at any time in my past. Thomas Edison once said, ?I have not failed 10,000 times, I have successfully found 10,000 ways that do not work.? Me too! I wish I could learn from other people's mistakes but, in truth, I need to make my own. The good news is that I am still standing and still able to not take life or myself too seriously. I have pretty much lived a charmed life and no matter what happens from this point forward, I haven't missed much. I am not an observantly religious man. I do, however, make an effort to maintain my spiritual condition on a daily basis. I am French and my heritage and culture are important to me.