MANHATTAN RESIDENT - SEEKS SAME: 42-55

I believe in a level playing field, as do you I hope, and therefore will only respond if you have pictures posted.

Financial exec - 6' plus. Warm. Witty. Romantic. Sensitive. Cerebral. Communicative. Athletic. Caring. Physical. Passionate!!! Typical Renaissance Guy - because of the eclectic range of interests. My vision of Hell is being stuck someplace with nothing to read. I can be studying history or architecture, following (and playing) sports, discussing (after watching) film or theatre, debating current events and economic theory, photographing a poignant scene, enjoying a range of musical style, fixing a diesel engine, writing - several of my travel articles have been published.

Currently run an investment firm; had built 5 such businesses over 15 years at 2 major institutions. It is the MOST intellectually stimulating business. Active in sports and physical pursuits; ran track in college, still revel in a good workout. Favorite venue: the water. Started a SCUBA-diving business at 15, lifeguard in college, avocation is boating. Keep a most comfortable sailboat in Oyster Bay. Have cruised extensively including Spain, Portugal, Finland, Sweden and Baja; raced Newport to Bermuda 5 times. (Yet, after a long workweek, just anchoring in a nearby cove to swim, read, eat, drink, talk and relax with the right friend is perfect!). Other vacations - travel to wherever.

At some point, want to park (with the right company) in various places for 3-6 months at a time to soak up the local experience. Tuscany is high on that list. When time is short, just getting out for a weekend of backroads, country inns and little towns can be great.

Social contributions include 6 years on the board of my secondary school. We re-designed and re-built the 1800's campus for the 21st century. My teachers would be surprised and amazed that Huck Finn went on to earn a Master's degree with Honors and then came back to re-vitalize their school.

MY MATCH: I've had lots of terrific adventures and know that the most satisfying are those you share with somebody you care for. I think that the best relationships occur when two people approach life at about the same speed and have similar values. Shared interests and intellect provide the medium for communication. I like to be genuinely close; to me that's what it's all about. None of this means we have to be too similar. Variety does add zest, but it helps to have some common basis on which to get started.

I find that it is often hard to anticipate the kind of person you will click with, hence my aversion to pre-established categories as here. However, you MUST be a HAPPY person. Good mates are like eagles - you find them one at a time. I'm looking for somebody I can be pretty CRAZY about - is that You?

Manhattan is a Disneyworld for adults . . . the possibilities are limitless, even for a first date.