FILE – Sen. Joe Manchin, IW.Va., speaks after being featured at the “Politics and Eggs” event, part of his national listening tour, Jan. 12, in Manchester, New Hampshire (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

WHEELING – U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says he may not “sail 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 until at least 2025.

“I’m 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 a good conversation and talk freely. No one reports it and no one knows about it.

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

Manchin isn’t giving much indication of his plans 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’ve been doing this for 42 years. This will be the first time – after January 23 (the date his term ends) – that I will be able to plan something and maybe be able to make it happen.

“I have never been able to set my own schedule in 42 years. I’m looking forward to it, but I still want to be able to help people and connect them to others for help.

After 14 years in the Senate, Manchin believes he has accomplished all he could in the House “within the structure we have.”

He said he’s made a lot of friends there and thinks maybe he can help foster a middle-middle in a politically divided environment.

What both parties must recognize is that the American people have not chosen any affiliation greater than either party, Manchin continued. Among registered voters, the Democratic Party has 23 percent and the Republicans have 25 percent. That leaves those not affiliated with any of the major parties at more than 51 percent.

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

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

The federal government has also invested more in West Virginia in recent years, he added. Manchin reported that over the past four years, the state has collected an additional $22 billion from Congress.

“I’m just asking the state legislature not to waste it, because it will never happen again,” he said.

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

“I’ve seen both sides turn into a billion-dollar business machine,” Manchin said. “Their business plan is if I can make you choose one side and hate the other, that means you will come to me.

“That’s not how you run a country. This is really not the case.

Still, he has hope for America’s future.

“Sure, but the resilience that 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 went through some really tough times. We have experienced all of this.

“I saw everything. We did it and we will do it again. »

Manchin added that he hopes the Democratic and Republican parties come together — “but only if there is a third party that is a modern centrist party called the ‘American Party.’

“He says, ‘You are Americans first,’” he said. “If you want to clear left or right, you better get back to the middle to be all-in because that’s what it’s going to take.”

Manchin said his advice to state lawmakers is: “We are all West Virginians first.”

“But above all, you are Americans,” he continued. “So if you think the party defines who you are, you might want to find another profession. If you think you can help – regardless of the “D” or “R” in front of your name – and you have a calling for public service, do it.

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

As for rumors that he is interested in taking over as president of West Virginia University after E. Gordon Gee, Manchin remains shy.

“I heard these rumors too,” he said. He added that he knew nothing more about them.