I was born in San Francisco and raised on the Peninsula. I love to travel but enjoy coming back home to the Bay Area. You certainly can't beat the weather! I worked at Stanford University fundraising for 24 years before retiring in 2009. I was asked twice to come back in different capacities, so now I work part time in the Business School. I love my free time too much to go back to full time.

I have four adult children all living on their own and five grandchildren with another one on the way. I love my two kitties and am also a dog lover. I am a widow of eight years but know that there is still a lot of life left in me that I want to share with a special person. Are you the one? I don't "sweat the small stuff." And as they say, it's all pretty much small stuff. I have a great sense of humor and love to laugh, most times at myself!

One of my favorite places to go is up to the Sierras among the "big trees" (thus my user name) and hang out at my cabin by Hume Lake. I'm in a book club (about eight years now) and enjoy reading. I very much enjoy being in a relationship. I know that it makes me a better person. I hope that you feel the same way. I'd be happy to share some of your interests, something that may be different than mine. After all, we don't want to be exactly alike; we should compliment each other. I'm good at taking good care of you if you
can do the same.

I'll try most anything at least once, with the exception of skydiving, bungie jumping, etc. -- not into dangerous stuff. I enjoy my life too much! It's great to travel and learn about new places, histories and cultures. I also enjoy the arts. I can't live without music and like a good concert (mostly rock & roll) or a live musical comedy.

I have to add that the "Personality" tab on this website is way off. Where do they come up with this stuff?!I don't know how they determine their bar graphs, but I can say it doesn't represent me at all. I am independent (own my home for 32 years now), adventurous and love intimacy, both physical and emotional, with that special person.

I recently retired for the second time. Now I just work 20 hours a week. I'm really enjoying life and doing whatever I want whenever I want. I'm enjoying the people in my life (of course, my grandchildren!), nature, the mountains, traveling and am thinking of doing some volunteer work helping distressed wildlife. I'd love to do more traveling but would rather do it with a special person. I enjoy experiencing new restaurants whether it be four star or a great hole in the wall as well as wine tasting.

I'm definitely a "people person." I've been told that I'm very warm and caring. My friends are for life and we're there for one another. On the flip side, I love numbers (I know, that's weird) so I'm good at finances and Sudoku puzzles! It's good to keep the 'ol brain exercised!

My smile and twinkly brown eyes.

I've read so many books (in a book club) and seen too many movies to choose a favorite. I love thrillers. I like rock 'n roll, R&B, and most any type of music with the exception of rap and opera, although I loved "Phantom of the Opera." I like any type of seafood and, of course dark chocolate! I think they call those aphrodisiacs....:)

1. My family and friends
2. My health (nothing else is enjoyable without it)
3. Love
4. Nature; going up to the mountains
5. My home with my two kitties
6. Did I mention dark chocolate?!!

I don't usually stew over things unless it's regarding my family. I do think about my children and grandchildren's well being and future. I guess I spend time thinking about what's around the corner for me in my life. You know that, "Life is what happens while we're busy making plans." I try to live in the present and enjoy what and with whom I'm with at the time. I also think about making my future an enjoyable one and would like very much to share it with that someone special. I'm looking for a long-term relationship - hopefully, my last love.

I like to go out to dinner with friends or family. I enjoy either a movie out or at home or perhaps a good TV show. Sometimes I'll hang out with my friends and once month I go RV camping with a group of friends to various fun locations, i.e., Santa Cruz, Gold Country, Delta, to name a few. During the summer months, you'll find me driving up to the mountains a couple times a month.

For now, the most private thing I'll share is that I have four children who do not live with me and five grandchildren with another one in the oven. You can find out more when I get to know you. It's much more fun that way!

If you like my overall profile and want to see where the next step would take us.