I've been in the DC area for about 18 months now, but I still feel like a newbie. Prior to moving here, I bounced around every 3-4 years: Los Angeles, the Boston area, the SF Bay area, and Connecticut.

I'm looking forward to finally getting a chance to put down roots here, although I refuse to think of it as "settling down." I'm far too into travel and far too engaged with living a dynamic life to like the concept of "settling."

I'm an unabashed progressive. Policy work has been important to me for many years. But, I'm not militant about it. It is important to me that I date somebody who cares about the world around her, but as long as she can defend her beliefs, they do not need to be the same as mine.

I'm not easy to put in a box. I love learning and engaging intellectually with people and ideas, so I consider myself a bit of a nerd. Yet, I'm also down for watching baseball or college football, or going kayaking or hiking.

I'm an attorney with a big DC firm who is (shockingly) loving my profession. The hours are variable, but pretty reasonable--the type of situation where I can make sure I'm free if there is a reason to be. My practice has an industry focus on consumer finance, but spans a range of legal work within that, including litigation, enforcement, regulatory compliance, and policy. It is interesting and intellectually engaging--just about all I could ask.

Not to sound too cocky, but a bunch of things. This really should be everybody's answer, because it is always true if you think long enough.

That said, I'm going to choose--being a counselor, of sorts, to my friends. I'm always willing to listen and offer advice, sympathy, consolation, etc., as needed.

Probably my height--hard not to notice, I suppose. Maybe, the fact that I laugh a lot.

Books: Anything by Vonnegut, also anything about economic policy and/or theory (Nerd!...in a positive way, I swear)

Movies: Dr. Strangelove, High Fidelity, Pan's Labyrinth

TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Scrubs

Music: The Shins, Santana, Franz Ferdinand, Simon and Garfunkel (a strange, strange mix... I know).

It occurs to me that this cannot be filled out honestly without some degree of cliche, so:

1) My supportive family (most of whom are not actually related to me, more on that later)

2) Intellectual engagement

3) A cause/something to feel good about completing

4) A degree of uncertainty about my life/an unfinished project

5) Something to sing about, or at least dance about

6) Good coffee (my only real addiction)

Fiscal policy and financial industry regulation, travel, and baseball

Depending on whether it was a particularly stressful day at work, either out with friends (usually in Dupont or Chinatown) or at home finding a way to wind down.

Yeah... you're going to have to get to know me for this one.

You are a cute nerd (at least at heart) and you don't think that's a bad thing.

You are looking for a relationship that could last, but you are not going to force something to work just because "you have to be with somebody."

You are going to say more than "hi." (Note: "Hey" is not more than "hi" simply because it has more letters.)