I not only march to the beat of a different drummer, I'm marching in a different band. I challenge conventional wisdom and social norms. Despite that, I manage to fit in whenever it's necessary.

I love to go backpacking, flyfishing, and cross-country skiing, but I can also enjoy high-cultured urban activities, like concerts and people watching.

I've settled into a career that gives me just the right combination of compensation and free time so that I can enjoy the rest of my life. I spend many of my free weekends going backpacking, cross-country skiing, and fly fishing. I can enjoy urban adventures, too, but I'll usually let my partner take the initiative in planning those.

In the meantime, I enjoy the moment in every way I can. One more way I'd like to enjoy the moment is with a like-minded partner.

I'm really good at making a fresh-baked blueberry cobbler when I'm backpacking in the wilderness. I make it from scratch, including fresh blueberries. I use a baking technique that requires no cleaning.

I've been complimented on my enthusiasm, usually for my outdoor activities or other interests outside of work.

I mostly read on-line now. I enjoy progressive news and blog sites like Salon.com and ThinkProgress.org. I also enjoy informative sites, especially related to any hobbies I'm pursuing.

I haven't seen a movie in a while, but my classic favorite is Top Gun. I enjoy all kinds of music that doesn't threaten to damage my hearing. I especially enjoy campfire songs, and other sing-alongs. I can enjoy classical, pop, country, alternative, and fusion.

I'll eat anything. I love barbecue ribs, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and dark chocolate. Coffee is almost always decaf, with lots of sugar added to make up for the lack of caffeine.

Food, water, shelter, communication, mobility, and security. Those are the three basic needs for survival, plus three additional needs for social order.

To be more specific, I value all my outdoor gear (food, water, shelter); all my communications gear (computer, iPhone, radio); vehicles (all fuel-efficient); and all my social connections (family, friends).

So far, I've made do without you, but there is room for a number seven.

I've been thinking about Jared Diamond's introduction to his book, "Collapse", in which he raises the question about what the residents of Easter Island were thinking when they cut down all their trees. After years of thinking about this (mostly subconsciously), I think I have a plausible answer.

When I'm not thinking about such serious matters, I'm usually thinking about my next foray into the outdoors, or about my next romantic foray (with you?).

Either on my way to my next backpacking adventure, or already there! This summer, I've spent more than half of my weekends on a backpacking trip. I often start my trip on Thursday after work, but sometimes wait until Friday.

Having said that, this is an unusually intense period of outdoor activity for me. I'm sure when the right person comes along, she will persuade me to spend more weekends indoors.

Let's discuss that over coffee....

Message me if you want to know how to bake a blueberry cobbler without having to clean anything when you're done. There are lots of other recipes as well.