OldHickory01

Hobbies: I am currently making improvements to my home. I enjoy working around the house. I love animals. I "read" many audio books. I Have a literature degree and also enjoy reading history. Books that have changed my perspective include Ladder of Divine Ascent, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and The Confession by Tolstoy. On clear nights, I lug the telescope to the patio and look at the planets and nebulae. I love the holidays and am looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. In my youth, I was an avid rock climber and skier. I hope to begin skiing on a regular basis again, soon. I am stuck in the 70s-90s when it comes to music, although I try to find current alternative music that I can enjoy. I find that I often listen to familiar grunge such as Alice in Chains, STP and Pearl Jam. I also lean on Collective Soul, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Santana, The Eagles, Stevie, etc.

Background and Aspirations: I am fairly well traveled. I have lived overseas in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. I lived 10 years on the Monterey Bay, two years in Alaska and have been in Tennessee since 1999. I hope to visit Egypt and Italy and Israel, among other places, someday. I enjoy trying cuisine from other cultures. I cook Mediterranean, East Indian and Southeast asian dishes. Turn up the heat!

I am in the process of securing a good retirement and leaving behind a stepping stone for my son to continue to improve our family fortunes.

World-view: I believe that the most important rule to live by is the Golden Rule. Serving each other will bring happiness. Call me old fashioned, but I believe in a partnership between two people and am unhappy in power struggles. I am originally from ranching country in South Dakota where couples are traditionally in partnership rather than patriarchal or matriarchal models. I am not critical of others and find this trait to be the most difficult to swallow in a relationship. I try to be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove when judging others.

I have only recently felt the desire to date. I have been divorced for almost four years and needed the time to recuperate. I have a funny and loving son who lives with his mother but I am very involved in his life. I value our relationship greatly.