Gabrielle: Looking for an adventure partner

Hmmm, well I haven't done a character / self-identification assessment or checklist in a while, so I may accidently leave something out. If I do, feel free to ask. I guess I am now what some would consider to be "cougar age", but then again, I've heard that 40s are the new 30s, so maybe not. However, being a cougar implies that I am on the hunt for a younger male"”this is not exactly the case. I have had male friends of all ages, and I know that someone's chronological years do not make the man. I much prefer what is in his head. Usually, this happens to be men a bit older than me, because I feel that they are secure in themselves and who they are, and they've got nothing to prove. I'm AM open to any age, though. I don't think I will ever "grow up" when it comes to dreaming, or imagination, or creativity. I will be a forever student of life. I want to continually learn; I crave to know and understand the things in my world that I see with awe. I enjoy both the simple and complex things in life. I am just as comfortable in a gown and pearls or jeans and a t-shirt. I can spend hours on a beach looking in tide pools, or all night gazing up at the Milky Way. I value quality friendships over quantity"”and close knit friendships are harder and harder to come by. I blame social media in part. There is too much garbage and interference in life when always connected to your devices"”a huge pet peeve of mine. In that same vein, I still appreciate an afternoon at Barnes and Noble, just sitting in a big plush chair, reading an actual book with printed pages. I will never lose my love of the written word in hardcopy form. I love animals. I have had dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs and hamsters. I want chickens, but I do not live in a place that would look kindly upon me bringing 6 chickens into my place. Sometimes, animals make better companions than people. They don't hold grudges, and are always happy to see you. Their attachment to you is purely unconditional. Sadly, the same cannot be said for all humans. And they're therapeutic. Other things I enjoy are horseback riding, walking the beaches, looking for interesting things that wash up on the shoreline. I love new experiences, from trying new foods to doing things I haven't done before"”like bungee jumping, flying using one of those "flying squirrel" suits, or hang gliding. I am always up for spontaneous and extreme adventures (i.e. hoping a plane to the UK for a long weekend with 2 hour notice before having to be at the airport, and pack very lightly because of short notice) I'd like to find someone who is quite knowledgeable about London, it's history, and England in general. I didn't care for history growing up, but I certainly have a passion for it now. The USA is young compared to Great Britain, and a lot of Europe. So much history and changed have occurred through the centuries, I can't help but to see remnants of older civilizations and imagine how life was back then. There are layers, upon layers of civilizations yet to be uncovered....Fascinating! Other random factoids about me are: I have blue eyes, brunette hair, HW proportionate, I am 5 ft 5 in tall, have English, Irish, British and German ancestry. My paternal great grandparents emigrated from Germany in the 1800s. I am also distantly related to Ulysses S Grant (through marriage) on my mother's side. (My great, great grandfather went to school at West Point with Grant, who was introduced to a cousin of my G.G. grandfather. They courted, but she died early on. I have four siblings, and I am the second to youngest. I do not have any human children. (I have fur babies) I love British humor, especially Monty Python. Hot Fuzz was goofy, too. (yes, it was sophomoric, but still had its merits.) Although my undergraduate and graduate work is geared toward social services, I am more interested now in environmental issues and want to go back to school to attain a second Bachelor's Degree in Marine Sciences. The generations in my family are quite long, in comparison to other families. For instance, my grandfather served in WW1. (the generations average about 30 years or so)
The right music can deliver me away from a bad day. My tastes in things are usually very broad--foods from different cultures, music spanning centuries as well as geographical regions of the world, and activities that I could partake in that give a natural high. So, if you like what you read, send an email back and we'll see how it goes.

What am I searching for in a friend?

"¢ Someone who is secure in who they are.
"¢ Someone who doesn't feel like they need to prove anything to the world. They are at a maturity level that they have attained their goals, are comfortable with who they are, and realize that while it's nice to have things, the real enjoyment comes when you can share experiences with others, and make memories.
"¢ Someone with a sense of humor. (THAT is a MUST)
"¢ Someone who can joke about themselves, and not take themselves too seriously when the mood is light. Conversely, if there are deeper issues being discussed, then empathy and sincerity are good qualities to have.
"¢ Must like animals.
"¢ Someone who also likes to try new things, and can be spontaneous. (Go away on a trip at the last minute) Eat things that you might not otherwise"¦fried scorpions, chocolate covered ants, or something else that another culture eats as a snack the same way we eat chips.
"¢ Someone who shares SOME commonalities with me.
"¢ Someone not afraid to have fun, even at the cost of looking silly doing so. Remember, you are secure enough in yourself that it doesn't matter what others think"”you are living your life the way YOU want to.
"¢ You should like both outdoor and indoor activities. Plays, museums, concerts are great indoor entertainment. And anything I mentioned for outdoor activities for all seasons works.
"¢ Someone who has some freedom in their lives, so they are not tied to a desk all the time.
"¢ I know that having a good time and having fun are subjective, but given the climate for which I see ourselves in, we should both be accommodating to some of the other person's interests if you don't necessarily enjoy something or vice-versa.
"¢ Someone who is looking for a good, solid friend. That means no façade, no pretense, no games, honesty, trustworthy and upright. That might be asking a lot, but I know that men like this exist.
"¢ Discretion. I don't like it when my business is blabbed to people at work around the water cooler, or in a gym locker room. Whatever we share, we share with each other, not 20 of our closest friends.
"¢ A sense of adventure. Are there things on your bucket list that you want a partner to do things with?
"¢ Be yourself. If we click, then great! If not, then it's still nice to meet new people.
"¢ Be a dreamer. Life can be mundane sometimes, but your imagination can save you from that. Being a philosopher can help, too.

horses horseback riding equine travel dining animals humor live shows overseas international culture uk plane flying countries visit weekend get away outdoors swimming sailing boating scuba snorkel adventure spontaneous love life living various taste new things long weekend skiing beach sand lakes ocean rivers experience try no children sand dollars shells extreme soul friend quality confidential discreet enjoy europe pacific islands tropical northern lights