I am something of a late bloomer, and I've had my share of adventures and travails. Though I am increasingly underwhelmed with Internet dating, I am here looking for a special woman to complement my life who also seeks a committed relationship.

Some Descriptors (deep breath): articulate, energetic, morning person, competent around the house/kitchen (prefer cooking from scratch to mixes), mischievous, athletic, traveled, dependable, dog lover, irreverent—I try not to take life (or myself) too seriously.

I love being active and enjoy adventures around town a pied or vélo (like taking the pooch on a dipping tour of DC's fountains; he's been kicked out of several by the Leash Police) or—especially—in the country. Love things international/ethnic (I have a fairly deep international background: studied in Paris four years, Thunderbird MBA, ex-World Banker/IDB). More nester than party animal, I tend toward deeper, long-term friendships. Philosophically, I'm interested in and define my growth in terms of emotional, intellectual and physical development. I am probably less conventional than I appear, and I enjoy seeking out and taking roads less traveled.

I find I'm happiest when out and about. Being able to often experience nature is important to my spiritual well-being—though not religious, I find my spirituality in nature: it's my "reset" button. To this end, I spend a fair amount of time hiking with the pooch, typically on remote sections of the Canal/Potomac or trails in the woods so he can gambol about off-leash (and get incredibly d-i-r-t-y—see pic), tennis (I'm a 4.5-level player and play several times/week), cycling, running (just getting back into it), working out. Also enjoy museums, Sunday night concerts at the West Wing as well as the occasional play or other cultural activity (dilettante basis). I like a variety of musical genres, mainly classical, jazz, blues, world and classic rock; smooth jazz (blech!), hip hop and rap don't do anything for me. Current reads: Plutarch's Lives, Blink (Gladwell), Born to Run (McDougall), cherry-picking my way through this week's New Yorker.

Discovered late in life that I love active vacations. In recent years, I've hiked from village to village across the Swiss Alps followed by a week hiking in Sicily; spent 10 days in Acadia National Park biking and hiking (and gorging on lobster and blueberry pie at night); most years, I take a mini-vacation and bicycle from Cumberland back to DC on the Canal in 3 days.

Seeking My Dream Girl: Smarts, sass and 'tude are attractive qualities in my book. Beyond that, I looking for a cool and kindred spirit who is single (N.B. by my calculus, separated is not single); centered and emotionally evolved; educated and cultured; perhaps/hopefully fit & active, athletic & outdoorsy; a soul with a sense of adventure; a dog lover (not fi fi la pooches, though); internationally-minded/experienced (e.g., has a valid passport); enjoys being intellectually as well as physically active; and lives in DC or its environs. Together, we'll have fun investigating—and perhaps solving—enigmas such as the French adoration of Jerry Lewis and marvel at the pomp and vanity rife in the DC area.

Let's Not Waste Each Other's Time: Never say never—and I hope this doesn't seem like a rant—but we are likely not a fit: If you don’t like dogs; if you are stuck in texting mode or are otherwise functionally inarticulate (call me weird, but I'm rather fond of good spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.); if your profile contains too many banalities, e.g., love to laugh, love to have fun (how many people have you met that hated to laugh and/or loved boredom?), cuddling, long walks on the beach, jeans to little black dress, or the word "classy" (cringe); if you don't have at least a bachelor's degree; if you list TV programs, shopping, partying or NASCAR among your favorite things; if you are über right wing. Definite non-starters: Smokers, druggers, boozers.

I’m planning the next vacation. Want to come?

Something casual, light and fun; Starbucks is to be avoided—at any cost. Ideas? If it's nice out, let's take the pooch for a walk on Roosevelt Island or the Canal. If it's raining, how about a museum?

Future date/s: A stroll around an interesting part of town and a meal, perhaps at some dive ethnic eatery we've come across. Also, I really enjoy shopping for and preparing dinner together (is there any such thing as too much garlic?).