THE SADNESS of things: We don’t always get what we want.
But the beauty of trying, of knowing and defining what we don’t want: We can make quick decisions when the actual choices come up.
***
I still don’t have a particular type of guy.
While physical attractiveness can be a factor, it never was a major criterion for me.
I am attracted to all sorts of people as to age, color, body type, ethnicities.
I am also considerate to all sorts of people as to talent, intelligence, financial status, religious and political beliefs.
***
But for my boyfriend, it’s a strange mixture that I am after.
There’s no simple way to explain it, so let’s go by examples.
Like, I can go for an older man, but with money.
I can go with a penniless guy, but with beauty, talent, and smarts.
***
Money or sexual prowess?
—I’ll go for great sex…
…for now.
But the moneyed can always convince me otherwise. Haha.
***
Smarts or good looks?
—I still prefer the smart one.
But if you are damn handsome and charming, come for an interview anyway.
I have a different standard for intelligence than just your regular Stanford-Binet IQ Test.
I mean, if you have the charms and business savvy to help make my money grow so that we can support ourselves and live comfortably, why shouldn’t I choose you?
***
The September Project of 2015 didn’t get me a boyfriend.
(That’s why we have this edition called The Boyfriend Project of 2022.)
But again, it’s not for the lack of trying.
It has just not been easy for me after becoming a widower at 45.
Most 45-year-olds are dinosaurs, if I say so myself.
At 53, until you have met me on a date, you would think I’m a freaking dinosaur, too.
But then, you would be wrong. Very, very wrong.
***
You see, I have kept myself young-looking, healthy and disease-free, active and ready to travel.
So, yeah, I’m fit to be a consort to teenagers and young adults, too.
In college and university towns in America and Europe, I am such a hit.
Because I know the rules of Gen Z hookups, and I play them so well.
***
I’ve resisted teenagers for the longest time.
I waited until people were at least 18 years old–when the age of consent in the Philippines was freaking 12!
So, now, it’s 16?!!!
Well, welcome to my world, boys!
Come to daddy! Haha. —Noooooo! Bwahaha.
***
Back to the last entry in The September Project blog.
***
Sept. 29 –
Dear World,
Let it never be said that I didn’t give the boyfriend project a chance.
Oh, no! I gave it all of the 30 days of September.
I’ve met several people in all that time, but no one really sustained my fancy for over three days.
Except maybe for the one cutie who I met last Saturday.
***
Then again, it has only been four days, and he is awfully young!
I’ll give him a chance, sure.
I’ll ask him out.
Then, it’s back to I, me, myself, and #petersolisnery. This ends The September Project.
***
Flash forward to July 2022:
Now, of course, we understand that this is the start of the new Boyfriend Project.
Good news: No expiration date this time. No deadlines.
And no long waits. No waiting time.
I am ever so sure of what I want, so I’d probably be able to decide whether or not to meet you again after our first coffee date.
I will not be your “paasa” guy, I can assure you of that.
***
I will not be the one to lead you on, build you up, buttercup baby, just to let you down.
If you like me, you contact me.
We will arrange a coffee date.
I’ll be paying, but you can insist to pick up the bill if you have a good, decent job.
***
If I like you enough, I will invite you for another date. Maybe a dinner, maybe a movie, maybe even a road trip.
Yes, we can afford a road trip.
(I have a newly refurbished RV, if you care to know!)
You can also simply say No to my offer, if I am not your dreamboat.
Say Yes, if you fancy me enough.
***
If you end up not liking me in the course of our coffee date, that’s okay by me.
I’m a grown man. I can take a No for an answer.
I mean, I’m also realistic.
I’ve seen how a lot of young gay men prefer to just date people their age.
Poverty likes poor company, what can I say? Haha.
***
But this is what I found out:
If, after coffee, people don’t want to be in a romantic relationship with me, they most likely want to be friends with me.
And I like that… about me! Haha.
Now, whether I really want to be friends with them, that’s another matter. Haha!/PN
