I'm looking for someone to laugh with me, and from time to time, at me. Someone who is curious, who likes trying new foods, new music, new experiences and can show me a few of these things. Someone who will challenge me, and who wants to be challenged a little bit herself.

I've been in New York for about seven years, living in Brooklyn for most of that time.

I love my job (most of the time), but I see it more as a means to an end. I think there is a lot more to life outside the office. I spend a lot of my free time getting outside (and out of the city if I can) hiking, biking, canoeing, rock climbing, surfing (I'm terrible at it, but I like it). But I also don't mind putting in a bit of couch time too.

I love to travel, but everyone says that, so I'll be more specific: I prefer to book a plane ticket somewhere and figure out where I'll stay and what I'll do once I'm there. I don't love being a tourist in big cities, and prefer to see smaller towns, and spend time exploring the jungles/deserts/mountains/deserted beaches/forests that wherever I am has to offer.

I like to cook. I'll bake you cookies.

I'm always interested learning new things. Recently I've been learning to play the guitar (I'm terrible at this too but it's a lot of fun), and I've been playing with a very old film SLR camera. Both things make me pretty happy.

I have an engineering-type job and I'm working a master's degree in a related field. I quite like it, each day is different, and I'm always learning.

My professional and academic life has always been very technical and analytical (think math and computers). While this is a big part of who I am, I've been trying to broaden my horizons a little. Recently I became a big brother (the mentoring program, my mom didn't just give birth). I've been paired up with a 12 year old. It turns out that biking around Brooklyn, getting muddy playing football in the park and just getting to know a kid is a very rewarding experience.

cooking; trivia; driving backwards in a car; solving problems; thinking about the big picture; considering the little things

People tell me I look younger than my age. Also, I've been told that my eyes are different/interesting color. Oh, and I have a butt that Just. Won't. Quit.

Ok, I'm not so sure about that last one. Why don't we get together and you tell me what the first thing you notice about me?

Books: Mordecai Richler, Bill Bryson, Robert Wright, Kurt Vonnegut, Jon Krakauer, Michael Lewis, David Sedaris, Vladamir Nabakov.

Movies: The Killing Fields, Dr. Strangelove, The Big Lebowski, Empire Strikes Back, Almost Famous, Capturing the Friedmans, Strange Brew, King of Kong, This Is Spinal Tap, Groundhog Day, True Romance, Say Anything, Rushmore, Spaceballs, The Fog of War, Once.

Music: I have pretty eclectic tastes, the list would be pretty long. Also, lately my MP3 collection hasn't been getting much bigger. I'm due to discover some new bands. Any suggestions?

Food: I really hate this term, but some people may consider me a 'foodie'. That is, I like to cook, I like to eat new things and I think about food a lot. I read food blogs, and day dream about things to cook. Earlier this year I put together everything I need to cook food sous vide at home. I like to experiment in the kitchen.

1) A good backpack
2) A passport
3) Learning new things
4) My chef's knife
5) Fresh air

Can't think of a sixth, so apparently I only need five

How the world works - physics, economics, psychology; what I'm going to eat for dinner which often involves devising new recipes; why people get on the subway and stop in the door they just entered blocking everyone else's way; whether I should get a dog

I'll be honest, I'm a bit of a home body. I'm often out on Friday night, but it's not my favorite night to go out. Seems like at the end of the week I always feel like crashing. However, the thought of heading upstate on Friday night to go camping/hiking/climbing is an appealing one.

I'm Canadian

You are smarter than I am; the smell of pine trees makes you happy; you get excited when you learn new, random facts; you want to pull the cushions off the couch and make a fort with me.