My goals in life are to understand the world as much as I can, use that understanding to leave the world better than I found it, express myself creatively, and enjoy myself to the extent possible.

I am an urban planner, working for a multinational institution on urban development issues in East Asia. It is exciting and frustrating at the same time. When I'm not doing that, I like playing my guitar, writing short stories, and exploring cities.

Seeing the big picture.

Not sure, but I think people who know me well would describe me as thoughtful and witty in a laid-back way. (If you don't like the question you've been asked, answer the question you wish you had been asked.)

Books - everything by George Orwell; P.G. Wodehouse; Roald Dahl's early adult stories; Kazuo Ishiguro; James Joyce's 'Dubliners'; Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road'; the Adrian Mole series; J.D. Salinger; Chris Ware's 'Jimmy Corrigan: the Smartest Kid on Earth'

Music - Radiohead, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Smiths, David Bowie, Grizzly Bear, Belle & Sebastian, Jethro Tull, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Beirut, Andrew Bird, Blur, Gorillaz, Dire Straits, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Strokes

TV - The Office (UK), A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Blackadder, Mad Men, British comedy panel shows, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Curb your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, etc.

Movies - Crimes and Misdemeanors, The Godfather, The Up Series of documentaries, Up, The Trip, The Truman Show, Annie Hall, Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii, Syriana, Metropolitan, The Apartment, Salaam Bombay, Once, Searching for Sugarman, The Fog of War

Misc. - Towpaths, rooftops, rainy days, fast songs in minor keys, views from aeroplanes, early colour photography, watching interviews of eloquent people on YouTube, typefaces, doodling

My music collection
My guitar
My bicycle
A small amount of time to myself every day
Internet
Friends, family, etc. etc.

how I would rather just be a floating consciousness who could read and listen to music and see the world and learn things than be an actual individual.

When on this site: why do so many girls' profiles say "you should message me if... you know the difference between 'your' and 'you're'"? Some people haven't had the benefit of a good education or an environment that encouraged learning. What should matter is the thoughtfulness and kindness of what someone has to say, not whether they adhere to arbitrary grammatical rules while typing it out.

Also: since when is being sarcastic a quality everyone is so proud of?

relaxing with friends.

I am very very meticulous about keeping my "play count" on iTunes accurate. This has been worth it as I can now analyze my listening habits over the last 9 years.

I tickle your fancy (or if you would like me to)