If you’re just looking to make friends, or to get laid, then by all means, I wish you the best of luck and may you have tremendous success. But you should probably move on to the next ad because I’m looking for something more. Don’t get me wrong - I love making friends and getting laid, but I don’t need to write a personals ad for either of those things.

If, however, you've been feeling like a change is in order, and you're ready to begin a new chapter in your life with someone unique and wonderful, get comfortable and keep reading. If I can't hold your attention for the two minutes it takes to read this ad, then we're not really compatible.

I’m a 42 year-old gay man from the U.S. who has been living in Baja California, Mexico for the last 4 years and I absolutely love it. I live in a small beach community on the Pacific side of Baja, about halfway between Rosarito and Ensenada, about an hour and a half south of San Diego.

For fun I like to boogie-board, go horseback riding, hike, camp, write poetry, read, eat, dance, sing, volunteer, teach, learn, daydream, cook, and hang out with some truly amazing people. For many years before moving to Mexico in 2005, I lived in a very gay district in Seattle where my life revolved around going out to gay clubs and hooking up with just about anyone who would have me. But in recent years, having been lucky enough to escape such a wreckless time of my life without catching anything dreadful, I've grown tired of bars and clubs for my entertainment. Even though Baja offers an ample supply of gay clubs from Tijuana to Ensenada, I’ve scarcely been into one since I moved here. I much prefer house parties with my friends, which often include dancing, live music, and of course, lots of margaritas, good tequila and cold cerveza at a fraction of what it costs to go out to a club.

By design, my life is very simple. I don’t have a car, a credit card, or a TV, not because I couldn’t have any of those things, but because I find living without them enriches my life. I can’t remember the last time I got a piece of mail. I don’t own a house and have no immediate plans to buy one, so if you’re thinking I’m a possible sugar daddy – sorry.

For the time being, I’m perfectly happy renting a very charming little casita overlooking the ocean for less than $300 dollars a month that includes all my utilities except phone and internet.

I earn a modest living working as the manager of a day spa at a nearby hotel. For extra money I teach Spanish to some of the Americans who live down here, which is something I really enjoy. Since I only work three days a week, I have a lot of free time to enjoy this lovely place. I also volunteer with a group that raises money to provide educational scholarships to local kids whose parents can not afford to send them to school.

I wish I were a good enough writer to describe to you with brevity how beautiful and peaceful it is here. Most days I walk to work along the highway overlooking the ocean. Often a friend will drive by, see me walking and pull over to offer me a ride. Sometimes I take them up on it, but most of the time we just chat for a moment and I continue walking.

It’s not anything like they make it sound in the US corporate media. There are no thugs waiting around every corner to kidnap you or rob you. At least none that I’ve ever seen, but then, I don’t live in a neighborhood like that. Do you? The people I’ve met since I’ve lived here are some of the most friendly and fascinating people I’ve met in my entire life – most of whom live within walking distance from my front door. In fact, some of my friends from the States who regularly come down to visit me sometimes refer to this place as “Heaven”. Once you’ve been here, and spent a few days here, you’ll see why. We have this thing here called “Sparkle Hour” which is usually the last hour before sunset, when the ocean is particularly sparkly and it casts a fantastic light on everything. Somehow cocktails taste better during Sparkle Hour, and everyone looks wonderful.

You see where I’m going with this? This is the life I want to share with someone I love. I’ve searched my whole life for a place like this, for a life like this, and at last I’ve found it. Yet as amazing as this place is, I find myself increasingly lonely here without a partner. I have lots of really great friends. But at the end of the day, I go home alone. I often dream of how nice it would be to have someone to snuggle on the couch with after a totally fun day, have a glass of wine, and talk about all the things we did.

I would be interested in meeting a guy who, like myself, has grown tired of the status quo and is looking for something more meaningful out of life.

I’m 5’ 9”, weigh 180 lbs, have brown eyes and brown hair that’s beginning to gray. My mom is Mexican/American and my dad is Scottish and Polish. My favorite cocktail either a Mojito or a Margarita from Magaña’s, a local tavern, made by David, my favorite bar tender. I don’t smoke cigarettes but I do smoke a joint almost daily. My coffee – black.

I have a small cat named Cola that is very sweet and I don’t really care very much for dogs. If you have a dog, that wouldn’t necessarily be a deal-breaker but it would present a significant challenge for us.

Are you bored yet? Do you find this ad tediously long? If so, then you know as well as I that we probably wouldn’t do very well together as a couple.

If, on the other hand, you are intrigued, and can imagine yourself in this setting, then here’s what I propose; make contact. Let’s communicate for a while first. Share pictures, e-mails, maybe be friends on Facebook or something. No promises or assumptions. Then if all goes well, you could come for a visit, meet some of my friends, I could show you around, and just see what happens.

One thing I should be clear about is that I have no desire to move back to the states. I *might* (big emphasis on the *might*) consider somewhere else in Baja but it would have to be pretty incredible to compete with where I live now. My objective is to meet someone who will fall in love with this place as much as I have and ultimately come here to make new life.

Yup, I know. It’s a long shot. Many will read this ad and think “Pffft… Yeah, right! Good luck, buddy!” Not a whole lot of guys around who are ready to leave their life in the U.S. and move to Mexico. You’d be giving up things like 24-hour grocery stores, pizza delivery, multiplex movie theatres, Ikea shopping, freeways, traffic jams, telemarketing, and regular mail delivery.

I’d like to meet a guy close to my age (within a decade in either direction) who is fairly attractive. I’m usually drawn to guys who are confident, outgoing, funny, brave, intelligent, and compassionate. I also like guys who have a strong sense of personal style and a nice warm smile.

Could this be you? If so, what are you waiting for? Here I am. Don't you recognize me? I'm yours.

P.S. - If you feel compelled to e-mail me and offer suggestions about how to improve my ad, please don't. I put a lot of thought into it and it already says what I want it to say. Thanks.

Dang! Can't pass the physical
or I'd invite you out for a sunset stroll!