After more than 20 years of living in Atlanta, a new job and a friendly divorce led me to move to Southern California earlier this year. Not the worst thing that can happen to you!

Now that I can get to work and the store without my GPS, it is time to address the personal side of my new life. (OK, my friends said I had to go to online dating sites...)

So here I am:

I am generally very happy with and by myself, have enjoyed all of the twists and turns (and there have been a few), would not change a second of my life. I am excited about where I am, and even more excited about what is ahead.

I enjoy my job (but it is not my whole life), love to cook and eat (that's much more my life), exercise regularly (works well with the cooking and eating), like toys, gadgets, technology, anything new. I feel younger than my age (then again, don't we all?) and consider myself in pretty good shape and plan to keep it that way... (bike riding on the beach path and indoor rowing are my usual methods of torture / exercise).

I am usually very laid back and easygoing, not overly serious, unless the situation calls for it. Life is too short to get upset about trivial stuff... (Sadly we tend to be reminded of that way too often...)

I don't smoke, don't do any drugs, no tattoos, no piercings, but I am still not completely boring (Have jumped out of a plane, driven very fast on the Autobahn, bought the best French Fries in Brussels at 6AM on more than one occasion, and taught two teenagers to drive... )

I drink socially (Merlot and Champagne are always good), but don't have to.

I grew up in Germany, but (I think) I have exorcised most of those demons :-) Still like crusty bread and Nutella though...

I am big on honesty and full disclosure - I like to know where I stand, and assume others feel the same way. Ask the question and you will get the truth. Even if it is not what either of us want to hear...

Oh, and people tell me I smile a lot - it just comes naturally.

Did I leave anything out? If I did, please ask!


So what am I looking for?

An independently wealthy woman who wants to make me her play toy!

And if that doesn't work... A woman who is happy with her life and herself, independent and in charge of her destiny. Doesn't "need" anybody, but would prefer to add another dimension to her life. I figure you get the right people together, and things will go to the right place naturally... (I am an eternal optimist!)

As I am trying to describe what "she" should look like and act like, it seems to me that it ultimately comes down to that undefinable "Click / Spark / Electricity". And that you can only get in person. So while this is my best attempt at describing myself and what I am looking for, if it strikes a chord with you, please let me know and we'll take it from there. We might become friends or lovers, but if we don't talk, we'll never know...

It think it really is that simple, if we allow it to be. The only dealbreakers for me would be smoking or drugs - just not my thing.

Profile is "friend verified" and "daughter approved". Pictures are current - I'll add more as I come across them... Age and vital statistics are correct - no surprises... (For me this is the rare case where "no surprises" is a good thing!)

If I added you to my favorites list, it is because I saw something in your profile that intrigued me beyond just the picture. In real life I would smile at you and tell you. Selecting you as a "Favorite" is the smile, and someday soon you will get a note to tell you the rest.

Let's talk on the phone to see what feels right. I actually would prefer to not call it a date. It is two adults saying "Hello". If it turns into more, wonderful. At the very least, both of us will have made a new friend! It seems to me if you call it a date, there is a "Yes / No" decision at the end, when "No romance, but good friend" should be another option.