Hi! I've lived here in Salem for less than a year. Although Salem is a larger community than I have live in for the past 20 years, I feel very alone here and yet I'm hoping that I fit in some way with the rest of the population.... I'm rather shy, which makes it difficult to even make eye contact with others, and I tend to stay at home because I have no real desire to be among large stores, big and loud crowds, or even street traffic. I'm not anti-social, just un-social when around lots of people. I don't drink, don't smoke, don't drive, don't watch television.... I can only compare my lifestyle to what is considered socially and economically popular, therefore I'm not attracted to clubs, bars, sporting events, material things, etc.However, I feel that I do have skills, abilities, opinions and values that I consider an asset to open-minded persons. I am quite left-wing politically (joined the Vermont Progressive Party in 2000), enjoy woodworking, reading (mostly 18th and 19th century classical novels), listening to and collecting music (classical, blues, jazz, soul, R&B and 60s & 70s popular, folk, etc.) and volunteering. In the past 20 years I have chosen only to volunteer with non-profit groups that are concerned with environmental protection, social/economic/health reform, third-party politics and protecting and expanding the laws surrounding local and family owned farms and their role in creating a sustainable and viable place in our society. I'd like to meet people whom are not hard-core materialists, yet like a comfortable and sustainable lifestyle. I'm living on a fixed income, so it's not always easy to spend money on "traditional" dating scenarios such as going to up-scale restaurants or big-ticket events. Yet I do enjoy meeting new people and sharing positive emotions, as well as expressing emotions regarding commonality, exchanging physical, emotional and sensual displays, as well as just plain good conversation.