I want to watch rain patter against the windows as we snuggle on the couch, warm and cozy together.

I want to whisper hopes, dreams, and secrets into the wee hours of the night.

I want to hold hands on long walks somewhere beautiful: a forest, a beach, a scenic neighborhood, take your pick.

I want to bake you deserts and hear you say, "Oh my god, that's so good."

I want to decorate the tree together for Christmas and feel like there's magic in the air when we turn the lights off.

I want us to proudly introduce one another to our families (if you're on good terms with yours).

I want us to be each other's first thought when we wake up from a scary dream.

I want us to look at each other and feel like the luckiest people alive.

I want us to be like peanut butter and chocolate: complete on our own, amazing together.

Who I am

I'm a 32-year-old Seattle man who values creativity, intelligence, and dedication. My personality can best be summed up as...

• I'm extremely passionate about things and people that matter to me. If I'm fascinated by a topic, I can write about it for thousands of pages. If I value a person, picking them up at 3 AM from the airport is nothing.
• I'm an introvert and prioritize few but close relationships over many casual ones. An evening reading, cooking, and taking a walk with a partner sounds like a rad date.
• I'm meticulous and detail-oriented. No facts are too insignificant for me to overlook. If I was mugged by a man wearing mismatching socks, I'd observe that his outfit could be better coordinated. Then I'd hand him a dummy wallet with a few bucks and expired credit cards, because I'm meticulous in practical ways too.
• I'm endlessly curious. I'm constantly learning and researching things. I can regale listeners with factoids from the practical to the esoteric. (Did you know that Kim Jong-Il once stole a bunch of giant German bunny rabbits?!) I'm never bored. The world is too interesting.
• I'm logically driven. I'm a facts first, feelings second person. (Although pragmatic enough to know the world usually operates on feelings!) I always side with Spock over Bones in Star Trek.
• I don't consider myself competitive or aggressive. But I'm stubborn as a mule when I've decided something (or someone) is important to me.
• I'm a stable person not inclined to take risks. I can be counted on to follow through on commitments. Friends and partners have found me a dependable presence in their lives.
• I value wit and cleverness, particularly in unexpected places. I chuckled over a restaurant's website that said about children: "Dining as a family is an art best practiced long before your reservation. For the communal sake of our dining room, please choose wisely."
• I have strong opinions and convictions. I respect strength in others. I define strength as remaining true to one's values despite external pressures. Some of my proudest moments are ones where I felt I did so.
• My sense of humor errs towards the droll, the dry, and the wry. (Which sounds like a baking recipe?) Random things can make me giggle for minutes. If I was locked in lab for study, observers' notes might read, "Subject appears to laugh randomly."
• My primary love language is quality time, followed by words of affirmation. I also like to express affection by cooking and baking for people.

Some of my biggest interests include:

• Reading, creative writing, films, tabletop RPGs (all four frequently from the fantasy, sci fi, and horror genres), history, cooking and baking, spending time with cats, personal fitness, and researching whatever random topics grab my interest.

• The common thread that many of these interests share is learning and creative self-expression. One of my favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien, viewed creation as a divine act that imbues the best parts of themselves into our creative works. This is true for everthing I create, be it a batch of cookies or a chapter in a story. It will be meticulously researched with high attention to accuracy and getting the little things right.

• I love learning new things. I value partners who can expose me to new interests and experiences (and vice versa) while sharing common ones. I value compatible personalities most of all, though. Sharing the same interests is moot if you drive each other crazy!

Physically, I'm 5'5", slender, Caucasian, brown-haired, brown-eyed, and have a short beard. I was once described by someone as "a handsome devil." Facetiously? Seriously? I choose to repost their words regardless! Happy to share pictures upon request.

What I have to offer

In alphabetical order...

• Commitment: I'm good at organizing and completing long-term projects. I've been GMing my current RPG group for nine years and written 11,000 pages of fiction with them.
• Communication: I'm a direct but tactful communicator. I believe that addressing issues promptly and openly is the best way to resolve them.
• Conversation: I'm well-read on a variety of topics and can provide engaging conversation.
• Cooking: I'm an adept cook and baker. I can prepare multi-course delicious and healthy meals. Or sinfully decadent, as desired--in my favorite chef's words, "Fat is flavor!"
• Criticism: I take personal criticism well. When I make an error, I want to know ASAP so that I can fix it.
• Finances: I have a steady job, excellent credit, and zero debt.
• Health: I'm drug-free, STI-free, and exercise regularly. I don't smoke or drink. I'm conscientious about my nutritional intake. My grandfather lived until 94: I want to do that too!
• History: My account has a long posting/comment history that gives a good sense of who I am outside of this ad.
• Housekeeping: I have multiple years' professional experience cleaning from a prior job. I can keep a tidy house.
• Learning: I'm passionate about learning new skills and interests, especially if they bring my partner joy. Do you love to ice skate? Carve wood? Study languages? I'd love to learn!
• Writing: I have strong written communication skills. I can articulately and entertainingly express a range of ideas in personal, professional, and hobbyist contexts.
• Broadly, I'm highly organized, methodical, and attentive to detail. I can leverage these traits to benefit my partner in a variety of situations.
• I love lists, can you tell?

Who I seek

The biggest thing I look for in a partner is mutual respect. I prefer partners who...

• ...are verbally eloquent
• ...are curious about the world and love to learn
• ...are respectful towards others
• ...are reliable during times of crisis
• ...keep promises, even when inconvenient
• ...have a firm moral compass, and can make others go, "What would [Person] do? That's probably the right thing," during tough situations
• ...take care of their body and value their health

I've also found fulfillment in relationships where the woman takes the lead. I'm happy to volunteer input and ideas, but I don't need to be the final decision-maker in the relationship (outside of areas we've agreed should be my call).

• Location: I desire an-person relationship. Someone in the greater Seattle area would be ideal--but I'm willing to start online with someone farther away. I'd want to visit in person, once we feel comfortable, and then discuss what to do from there.

If life is a journey, people are destinations. Maybe we'll be one another's dream homes. Maybe we'll be a lovely place to stay for a few years. Maybe we'll be ships passing in the night. My long-term goal is marrying a life partner, starting a family, and growing old together.

I'm also young enough that I don't need such to happen in my next relationship. If it does, awesome--but right now, I'm primarily interested in meeting interesting people and seeing where things go.

Feel free to shoot me a line if you're interested in the same!