Longing and desire are indeed perfectly natural.
We live in a culture that reinforces love-at-first-sight through multiple sources, including pop music, cinema, talk shows, and fairy tales.
The man obviously triggered your idea of male beauty, regardless of what label you put on it.
Whether your desire is purely sexual, or emotional, it is natural to want to possess this thing or be possessed, to love or be loved.
Unfortunately, we live when and where we do, in an era in which stalking has become a thing, and in which homophobia can be fatal. And, to be fair, both have always been around, long before this century and the internet.
Shakespeare wrote multiple stories about pursuing a love madly, and our world celebrates them.
Wanting to meet your object of affection is fair. But you have no way of knowing a) if he is happily partnered, b) gay or straight, c) open to you, or d) violently homophobic. You also don't know anything about whether he kicks dogs, votes for neofascists, recycles, is a Wiccan/Mulsim/Catholic/Baptist, has a growing drug problem, or abuses his partner.
All of that is to say, you have a crush on a two-dimensional character at this point. Is it fair to want to meet him to find out more? Yes. There is nothing creepy about that.
You have to be adult enough to do so with tact, reserve, and rationality. If you find out he plays intramural sports, and you go to the bar where his team frequents, then you can observe or meet him and see more. Once you've introduced yourself and if he doesn't respond with interest or encouragement, you have to walk away. It's thtat simple. Anything more is projection, and a losing proposition.
You've been on JUB for 16 years. That makes you at least 34. You have no doubt had other crushes by this age, so presumably you know how to put them in context. No one, and I repeat, no one can tell you this isn't going to be the love of your life. But, it is also true that no one can tell you it won't end in a broken heart, and posibly broken bones.
What I find remarkable about Colorado and the Great West in general is the prevalence of free spirits, including gays, endemic there, while alongside the exact same independent souls who would quite happily kill gays and leave them to rot. It's a land of contrasts.
People DO meet their soul mates and it all works, but it is especially dangerous for gay men and strangers. If you learn his name and find no context clues for being straight or gay in social media, then you are left to dream or walk away.
Being smitten isn't a mental illness. Letting it control you beyond a point is.
