I am a sensitive, empathetic, intelligent person with a good sense of humor and a friendly smile. I am told I am good looking, although not necessarily in a conventional way, and I am physically strong/large/ athletic. I like good movies (mostly of the thought- or heart-provoking type) and, although I am somewhat health-conscious, drinking coffee--for the flavor, more than for the "buzz. " I also like working out on my Nordic Track. I really enjoy good red wines occasionally (Cabernet's my favorite!), nice dinners that aren't too heavy or too meat-centered, and I definitely get into dancing (mostly free-form rock and roll; I get too self-conscious when I try to do "social dance," and generally find myself wanting to move more spontaneously than I can doing choreographed stuff). I also enjoy music festivals and live/ outdoor concerts, as well as most modern dance events. Lately, I am trying to spend more time hiking and getting out into nature, as I did much more often before I had kids. Before I became a professional educator at the university level, I was an actor, a clown, and a natural foods salesman. (I tell my students I "supported my acting habit" by working in the natural foods biz. ) I have been exploring my spiritual side more lately, taking a lot more time to slow down, get to know myself better, be more reflective. Buddhist-style meditation has helped me a lot with this. None of this relative quiet keeps me from having my silly and fun side, though, and in truth I am both playful and serious at times. (Aren't we all?) I am passionate about what I am passionate about, and thoughtful of others, which is part of what makes me a good partner, friend, and (hopefully) lover, too. I am very interested in politics at a number of different levels, from local community to national and international; I once thought I wanted to be president of the U. S. , before Nixon disabused me of THAT notion! But I might still run for elective office one of these days. I definitely place myself on the left side of the political spectrum. I am an optimist, basically. I have had a good life, and don't particularly want to stop now. Do you want to join me for some good fun and heartfelt times? I have been thinking lately that what's probably as important as that "tingle" or "spark"--or whatever you want to call it--in a partner is having one who respects me, shares some of my interests, and genuinely enjoys my company and can find it in her to be supportive of my self-actualization most of the time, as I would want to be of hers. But you need all these things for a successful romantic relationship. What do YOU think about all this?

My next sweetheart should be sensitive, in shape, kindhearted, know how to take care of herself and/or ask for what she needs physically, spiritually, emotionally, and as sexually attractive to me as I hope to be to her. She should be my friend and confidante, as well as my lover. I also would love a travel companion. Italy, Thailand, Ireland, France (once again), and Ecuador are a few of the nations that are currently high on my list of places I want to see. I enjoy learning languages and meeting people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. You gotta like kids--I have two, and I think the world of them! It is pretty important that you be intelligent, think critically (but not negatively!), and that you enjoy lots of intimacy as well as having your own sense of direction and purpose in life. A great smile and twinkling eyes always get my heart pounding! I am in no hurry to get overly intimate, and am happy to take things at whatever seems to be the natural pace. This is partly true, I think, because I am still healing some from a fairly recent divorce. In general, if you like what I wrote about myself, and found yourself nodding a lot to my comments above, there's probably something there worth exploring. Shall we dance?