WHEELING — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin indicates he just might not “be sailing into the sunset” after his Senate term ends in January.

In fact, he plans to keep his Washington-based houseboat “Almost Heaven” where it is through at least 2025.

“I am going to keep it for about a year to see if I can still use it to bring Republicans and Democrats together,” Manchin said of the boat. “We can sit down, have dinner, have good conversation and talk freely. No one is reporting and no one knows about it.

“It’s a great gathering place I’ve used for 14 years, and I’m going to continue to use it.”

Manchin isn’t giving much indication of what his plans are once he leaves the Senate.

“I don’t know. I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I’m not leaving West Virginia, that’s for sure. You know, I have been doing this for 42 years. This will be the first time — after Jan. 23 (when his term ends) — that I can schedule something and maybe be able to make it.

“I’ve never been able to set my own schedule for 42 years. I’m looking forward to doing that, but I still want to be able to help people and connect them with the people to get them help.”

After 14 years in the Senate, Manchin believes he has accomplished all he can in the chamber “within the confines of the structure we have.”

He said he has made a lot of friends there, and he thinks maybe he can help encourage a center-middle in a politically-divided environment.

What both parties have to recognize is that the people of America have chosen no affiliation greater than either party, Manchin continued. Among registered voters, the Democratic party has a 23% registration, and Republicans a 25% registration. This leaves those with no affiliation to either major party at over 51%.

“Be careful. This is our government. Be responsible for it,” Manchin said. “Get involved. Don’t let the parties dictate. If they have the values you have, then fine. But do what you know is right.”

Manchin lists among the accomplishments of his Senate tenure securing for coal miners lifetime pension and retirement benefits.

There has also been more investments by the federal government in West Virginia in recent years, he added. Manchin reported that over the last four years, the state has captured an additional $22 billion from Congress.

“I’m just asking the state Legislature to not squander it, because it’s never going to happen again,” he said.

He acknowledged he would have liked to have seen more political camaraderie in Washington amid an environment that encourages sitting senators to campaign against their colleagues in the opposing party.

“I’ve seen both parties turn into a business machine making billions of dollars,” Manchin said. “Their business plan is if I can make you pick a side and hate the other side, that means you will come to me.

“That’s not how you run a country. It really isn’t.”

Nevertheless, he has hope for the future of America.

“Sure, but the resiliency we have built into the checks and balances is going to be tested,” Manchin said. “We have been before, and we will be again. We’ve been through some really tough times. We lived through all of that.

“I saw it all. We made it, and we’ll make it again.”

Manchin added he had hopes for the Democratic and Republican parties coming together — “but only if there’s a third party that’s a modern centrist party called the ‘American Party.'”

“It says, ‘You’re Americans first,'” he explained. “If you want to go clear to the left or clear to the right, you better come back to the middle to be all inclusive because that is what is going to take.”

Manchin said his advice to lawmakers from the state is “we are all West Virginians first.”

“But most importantly, you are Americans,” he continued. “So if you believe the party defines who you are, you might want to find another profession. If you believe you can help — whatever the identification ‘D’ or ‘R’ before your name — and you have a calling for public service, do it.

“But really don’t let the party catfight. You must put your country and your state above your party affiliation. Do your job. And the other side is not your enemy.”

As for the rumors that he is interested in taking over the president’s job at West Virginia University following E. Gordon Gee’s retirement, Manchin remains coy.

“I’ve heard those rumors, too,” he said. He added he didn’t know anything more about them.