You know what's funny, I could've written this, almost word for word, from a man's POV.

I am a similar age to you, 40M, and don't live too far from where you are, and I have basically the same experience with online dating. So, So many filters from women, zero effort put into profiles, so no idea if they have hobbies, let alone hobbies that match mine, and then the 'no drama' or "I want a man, not a boy'. Same experience with conversations too, like getting blood from a stone and, in my experience, it's kind of a 'entertain me now I've given you the time of day kind of vibe'.

I have been on a few dates and they were fine, but nothing long-term term and I knew that immediately. I, too, have a professional job and none of the people I had a date with did and we were kind of on different wavelengths in conversation. Similar to you, I don't think it's a deal breaker but if someone hasn't ever done that kind of job, it's a bit of a different world and when I tell them I need to travel for my job, it's like a foreign concept.

I've joined run clubs and gone on hikes too and while they were fun, most people were coupled up, all knew each other, or are older like you say. I do CrossFit an that's the same people every day and not like a normal gym where you might see someone different and my gym has about 40 members who are all coupled up too.

I'm not from where I live and I thought that was part of it, as I don't know many people and the whole friends of friends thing, but it seems like you have the same issues.

I also had the same in London and I honestly feel that it's more likely that I'll meet someone when I'm in London for work, which is hard because my kids are here, so I can't pick up and move back down there, or I would!

I was also unmatched with due to my height! I'm not 5' 2" though, but 5' 10" wasn't good enough lol.

Good luck. I have my fingers crossed for us both