You will find me easy-going, intermittently funny, and open-minded. I like to take people one at a time, as they are. I'm happy with life, secure, but always looking for ways to improve. I'm told I'm a good listener, a better kisser, and a great cuddler. And I like to get to know people before I form an opinion of them.

I'm a caring, sentimental, and passionate person who doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve. You will find me a very dedicated friend and lover who will also give you your needed space. Like everyone, I've learned much from past relationships, and have moved on in the belief that there is something better waiting around the corner.

So, I'm easy to date. No pressures or expectations; no worries necessary on either side. I want our time to be at least pleasant, even if there is no "chemistry" between us. I have a thick skin, a great sense of humor, and I appreciate communication and ugly truthes over silence and pretty lies. Tact, grace and good taste are also important, but I know I'm not perfect, here, so I don't expect anyone else to be, either.

I would love to find someone to trust with my heart, again. I would love to find a partner who wants to be my friend and companion, and eventually, perhaps, my lover. I want someone who is imperfect, and who is not looking for perfection in me. Perfection is boring. If you are realistic, and are open to, or looking for, casual friendship with the possibility of something more, get in touch. I really do want to get to know all about you.

I have no children, and sometimes wistfully regret not having had a child. I've been divorced since 2005 - closed chapter, no loose ends, no baggage.

Living it as well as possible (you only have one, you know), and looking for ways and people to enhance it, always.

I've run a couple of successful businesses, worn a couple of hats, and now, I'm a "private investor" which is just a pretentious way of saying I play with my own money for fun and profit.

I am the "organizer" (I get the bill for the server space) for an online volunteer group on meetup.com called the St. Louis Volunteer Group www.meetup.com/volunteer-stl . I try to give that about one hour a day. I have a pretty impressive collection of free volunteer t-shirts.

I am a dog person. I won't say I won't live with cats, but I haven't, yet.

I bought a new-construction house in Skinker-DeBaliviere (that's a neighborhood in St. Louis for those of you who are new to The Lou). Right now, I'm in the middle of Operation Remodel, Decorate, and Furnish. If I remain solvent through the process, I'm going to have the house of my interior designer's dreams.

When I'm not busy with the house and work, I try to spend time with friends, ride my bike, kayak, hike travel, cook or just get things done.

Listening, talking, kissing, cuddling, riding bikes, cooking, travelling, trying new restaurants, long walks, yadda, yadda, yadda. Honestly, you'll have to decide what I'm really good at.

my laugh, my hair (redhead), my sense of humor...
on the negative side, the underwear modelling days are over, but I do exercise...I'm not a cloyingly demonstrative romantic...You'll just have to tell me what you notice about me, I guess.

-Books: Le Carre, Grisholm, Tom Clancy, J. K. Rowling, Time Enough for Love Robert Heinlein, The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury, The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame, The Wizard of Oz Frank Baum, The Jungle Book Kipling, Lord Jim Josef Conrad, Tai Pan James Clavell, A Wrinkle in Time Madeline L'engle, The Nine Billion Names of God Clarke, Tom Brown's School Days Thomas Hughes, The Foundation Trilogy Isaac Asimov, The Ascent of Money Niall Fergusonand, The Solar Living Guidebook, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, The Kite Runner, The Blue Zones...

-Movies, All-Time Favorites: Cromwell, Lord Jim, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Cowboys, Doctor Zhivago, Gandhi, Lawrence of Arabia, It's a Wonderful Life, The Hanging Tree, To Kill a Mockingbird, Dances with Wolves, Patton, Jeremiah Johnson, Gladiator, Ben-Hur, Platoon , Good Night And Good Luck, most recently.

-Movies, Most Recent: Surrogate (great message for superficial online daters in this one)

-Music: Rock, Soul, Blues, Symphonic, Reggae, Jazz, Country - I keep Indie Rock on in the background when I work.

-Food: Eat first; ask later. Anything-I'm an omnivour.

1) Friends
2) Family (I miss mine, but I do have cousins)
3) a good book
4) Optimism that I can make tomorrow a better day than today.
5) Something to do
6) My self-respect

Note: I am NOT a crackberry or iphone addict. I don't even own a cell phone. I am not, and, hopefully, will never be instantly communicable 24/7. Those of you who actually need the things to help you earn a living - you have my sympathies.

Currently? Besides investing and world economic opportunities? ...whipping my house into full functionality, making and keeping friends, giving back, and maintaining the bod.

At the moment I don't have a special someone to think about, or I'd be thinking about them, too.

Detoxing from a week of dry, up-and-down economic analysis and investing. When it is a good Friday night I'm spending time with a friend or friends. Otherwise, I'm getting ready for a float trip or watching a movie at home, by myself.

They think I'm going to tell all, here? Um...No.
Flatter me, ply me with alchohol and rub my tummy just the right way, and maybe, just maybe, I'll tell you.

...you're looking to meet a nice, funny, semi-intelligent, non-judgemental, honest guy, and aren't afraid of making a new friend. Seriously, I'm just looking to meet someone interesting. I've learned that nothing else can happen until that prerequisite is met. And that prerequisite can't be met until someone breaks what little ice (read "shyness") on my side. I don't bite, and I don't have a nefarious or duplicitous bone.
Go on. Give it a try.

P.S. After talking to a couple of you, I have heard that the women have to endure 1) Kinky 78 year olds; 2) Angry men who say you ladies are leading them on by putting profiles up; 3) Men with four kids by three women; 4) "Sort of separated” men...let me know if there are more. I'm also not clingy (Need to know why you didn't call me back or what you are doing every minute of the day). I promise, I'm none of that.

Friend me on Facebook under Edward Hecker, if you want to learn a lot more about me, or you can also go to
www.meetup.com/volunteer-stl, too.
And, no, I'm not trying to lure you into anything. It's just a typical Facebook page.

Informal poll: Lose the goatee?