I'm looking for a woman to get to know - someone to have fun with while exploring our compatibility for a serious, committed relationship.

I don't think words on a page can describe either myself (or any other person) or what I'm looking for perfectly - only time spent together and conversation can do that. That said, I'll give it a try, and attempt not to use too many cliches.

I would describe myself as an even-keeled, always happy and content person with a sense of humor. I'm looking for the same characteristics in someone else. I have an established life, and am looking for someone who has the same, but would like to meld the best aspects of those lives together. I think it's important to share some interests, but don't think we need to be carbon copies of each other - that would be boring!

I'd like to meet someone who could become my best friend, someone with a sense of humor (oops - I said I'd try not to use cliches, and that sure is one, but it's true!), and someone who knows how to have fun.

I like to be active, which for me means a range of activities from physical to mental both outside the home and at home.

I really enjoy travel to cool places, including seeing other countries and rugged natural landscapes, so it's important that anyone I'm involved with has at least some interest in the same sort of thing. Recently, I've been to Europe several times, Alaska, the American West, and other places. I plan on revisiting some of those as well as going new places. In the future, I plan on hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim and climbing a mountain that requires some technical training (no - I've never climbed before). When I do travel, I like to be very active and see the sights. I am not one for sitting on a beach - which is okay, because I can always go scuba diving if I do travel to a beach destination.

As for music, I mostly listen to rock, with a focus on alternative rock. I really like some types of punk, but I like a lot of other stuff, too. Some of my faves include (not an exhaustive list): Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Cure, Rufio, Taking Back Sunday, Blink 182, Less Than Jake, Dinosaur Jr, and Iron Maiden.

I like to read a lot. For books, I read mostly SF and fantasy. For magazines I read about philosophy, science, and politics.

Let's see.... here is another tidbit: I love a good snowstorm. When we get a storm, I always hope that work gets canceled, just like having school canceled when you were young (this rarely, if ever, happens, but I hope just as hard every time - I like my job, but I'm always ready for a day off). If it is a really savage storm, I will bundle up from head to toe and go out walking in the storm, preferably at night. There's something humbling about being out in the middle of such a raw force of nature - and, it's fun as hell!

I think cool first dates while doing interesting activities are great. But I don't really consider a first meeting with someone I found online a true "date". It's just a meeting to see if there is mutual interest in continuing to get to know each other (you can't tell if that interest is there without meeting face to face). So, I usually like the first meeting to be something simple like grabbing a few drinks or coffee (hot chocolate for me - I don't like coffee). If things go well with the meeting, THEN you can have that cool first date with an interesting activity.