If you're not not interested in meeting within 3 weeks of initiating email contact, please don't email me. If you're not really going to put forth any effort to meet, please don't email me. Because, if the rare thing happens and we do seem compatible and I do agree to meet, and then there's always an excuse or you're not available for X weeks, that's not what I'm looking for - thanks!

I decided to re-vamp my profile because I realized that I've always had an image of where I want to be in 5 years and what type of person I'd like to have there with me - and so I should probably look for that. Even if that person is not on this site, it makes no sense to consider someone that couldn't end up there with me.

I grew up in San Diego listening to hard core rap and R& B. I was a city girl. I shopped at expensive places, ate expensive food- I mean it was San Diego - nothing was cheap unless you crossed the border. (I was NOT the elite, but I did grow up with a materialistic mother.) I realized quickly that it wasn't the life I wanted to lead and not the life I wanted to have a family in, I like a slower and calmer life. I started listening to country music in college and realized I could relate to it much more than the rap. :) I converted.

I moved to VA a little over 3 years ago. I do love living out here and will never move back to San Diego, but I know that I'd like a little change from this as well. I'd like to move a little further out from the city, to have 5-10 acres and a little "hobby farm." To be honest I'd consider moving out of state if my career and life took me there.

I enjoy the outdoors, I want to have a family that runs around in the woods or in the field. I want to drink iced tea on my front porch and have friends over for BBQs on the weekends. Sounds cheesy? YES, I admit that it does. But for the past few years that's the image I had.

So with that said - someone that loves living in DC in a loft or studio or something - isn't a good match for me. Someone that is all about labels, BMWs, and silicone implants, wouldn't be interested in me.

I still want someone that's educated (I don't believe that college is the only way to be educated) and has ambitions and likes to be social. I still like having "nice" things - my vehicle is a '07 and I plan to keep it until 2014 or so. My house has nice furniture - and by nice I mean not beat up and it's clean :) I like my brand name jeans (Lucky Brand) but I don't think I've bought more than 4 or 5 other brand name pieces of clothing in the past 3 years (not counting shoes.) I do NOT own 40+ pairs of shoes.

That someone that's a match for me needs to like kids (I've been a foster parent off and on for 7 years and I'll probably do it again someday and I'm a teacher) and wants to have them biologically (someday - I do have a few good years left in me - it's a joke, smile.)

Respect for women, family values, open minded, and able to pitch in and help out with household chores are also great qualities to have :) In fact if you sit your butt on the couch with a beer while I cook, serve dinner, AND do the dishes, don't bother emailing me.

I'm sure I'm leaving something out - so feel free to ask. I just figured I'd try to be blunt about what I think I want, and see what happens...

For a first meeting with someone I don't know, I prefer to keep fairly short and simple... Coffee (although I don't drink coffee - haha) or a "happy hour" drink (although mine probably would be iced tea the first time) for 20-40 minutes tends to be enough for both people to decide if they would like to hang out more. Isn't there some quote that says a woman only needs 7 minutes to know if she likes you or not?

A "real" date after that - something fun like a comedy club or something active like a hike is always nice... BUT the traditional dinner idea is definitely okay with me as well. Anything that gives you a chance to talk to the person and get to know them better is a good idea - which means movies on the first few dates isn't the best idea.