While I made a modest introduction in the general introduction thread, I thought I might add one with a bit more detail here.

General: I became interested in D/s a little over six years ago while dating a wonderful girl who in time revealed to me here interest and experience in the lifestyle. Our vanilla relationship was transformed into a D/s relationship after I had read a number of books and web sites that she recommended an we began to experient. Slowly and with great patience she helped me to learn to become an effective Dom who was able to meet her needs as a submissive woman. I learned rather quickly that I enjoyed a D/s relationship much more than any vanilla relationships I had experienced. We remained together up until a few months ago when her employer offered her a career advancing position on the West Coast. While neither of us were happy about going our separate ways, it was an opportunity that she was well suited for and one that I could not bring myself to ask her to pass up. I myself was for several reasons not in the position to relocate. Quickly we arrived at the place where we had to admit that the distance by which we are separated precluded continuing the relationship as it had been although we always remain close friends. Thus, my experience to date is within the context of that one r/l relationship.

Lifestyle Interests: I have a wide range of interests within the lifestyle, some of which I have experienced and others that I hope to. I very much enjoy teasing and denial which I find to be very challenging. While I am not much of a sadist, I do very much enjoy spanking, flogging, etc. from more of an erotic viewpoint rather than from a desier to inflict pain. I do very much enjoy the transfer of power aspects and enjoy being in control. I like forced exercise activities and mild humiliation play. My former submissive and I had only recently began exploring water sports and I found that to be something I liked as well.

Other Interests: I enjoy reading, travel, fitness pursuits, music, and outdoor pursuits like camping, backpacking and hiking.

Goals: Honestly I am still quite attached to my former submissive and am not yet ready to become involved with another in a r/l relationship. First I feel it necessary to get past what I feel is a significant loss so that once I meet someone else, I can feel certain I am attracted to her for herself and not because I am trying to fill a hole left in my life. I have given thought to perhaps beginning with an online situation which would satisfy my own desire to remain involved in the scene and provide some outlet for it should such a circumstance present itself.

Philosophy: To met all relationships, even D/s relationships are an equal partership. The Dominant leads because he/she has been gifted with the traits to do so however I consider submission to be a beautiful and valuable gift that should always be appreciated and treated with respect. Without someone willing to submit I can not exercise my dominance and in teh same way, my dominance provides the means by which someone can experience and enjoy their submissiveness. I feel that there is always much to be learned and that no one possesses all the knowledge. It is my belief that both dominants and submissives must make it there goal to learn and grow so that a relationship deepens and does not become stagnant.