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Relationship

Domestic partnership. Interested in meeting people for friendship and meeting people for networking

Hometown

Born and raised in central CT; still living there

Places I've been

Before I retired, I traveled for work, so I've spent a lot of time in Philadelphia, Atlanta, DC. I've puttered around most of both coasts of the US, and Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado and Nevada. I've been to several European countries, and many times to Ireland. I love the Caribbean - especially Freeport, Tortola and Puerto Rico. I spend a lot of time in Ft Lauderdale, where my guy has a business.

Education

• A local college, English Major - 1965 to 1969
• A CT high school, academic studies - 1961 to 1965

Work

• National Non-profit Community Development Agency, Housing Director - 2009 to 2009
• Non-profit housing agency, Consulting Homeownership Director - 2008 to 2009
• Government Sponsored Entity, Sr Deputy Director - 1997 to 2008
• State-based Non profit Housing Agency, Homeownership Coordinator - 1994 to 1997
• freelance writing, research, editing - 1986 to 1994

More about me

Our house is part of a group of homes that were built early in our town's history.  Ours was the stable originally, and rehabbed into a house just before WWII.  It creaks and moans, much like we do some mornings, but is filled with things that bring stories to mind and is -- except for the drafts in winter and the daily likelihood that something wore out or needs fixing -- a wonderful and comfy home.

In September of 2007 I took early retirement; last spring I'd had enough of being at home, and picked up a consulting job in my field.  That ended in April of this year, and I've begun a new job as housing director of a non-profit community development agency.  I'd thought I'd accomplish tons of stuff when I retired, but discovered I got more done when I was working than without the discipline of a regular schedule.  

I'm on the Board of a men's shelter, and work on a variety of projects with men trying to change their lives.  It's humbling and rewarding, frustrating and fun.    

Lately, almost all my spare time is spent quilting, both for family and friends and for charity work.  I've been doing family history research for 20 years on people who don't want to be found.  I pretend to have some sense of gardening, but my talent runs more to buying plants than to knowing how to make things look like House and Garden.  I read everything from soup cans to technical journals.  I love independent movies, British comedies and Masterpiece Theater. 

My SO and I have known one another more than 40 years, with an interruption of a dozen years in the middle, when our lives went in different directions.  It's a relationship I care a great deal about; he makes me laugh.

We travel a lot, both for work and pleasure, and enjoy being on the water or puttering through junk shops and flea markets, and collecting American antiques (though he likes early stuff and I'm a Victorian addict). 

Activities

quilting, Irish genealogy, gardening, Caribbean travel, Victoriana, reading, mysteries

Favorite Charities

cancer research, military veterans, homelessness

Favorite Music

jazz, blues, Gaelic

Favorite TV Shows

Mystery!, Jeopardy, Dr Who, Masterpiece Theater, British comedies

Favorite Movies

Too many to think about - indies, most of the Merchant-Ivory stuff, period pieces, foreign films

Favorite Books

Anne Perry novels, Jan Karon novels, fiction that's got twisty plots

Favorite Quotes

Do not take the counsel of those things that you fear.

Favorite People

intelligent, funny, interesting people; people with stories to tell; men who can fix things and do things and build things

Favorite Places

Ireland, Wales, Belgium, Florida, Tortola, Freeport Bahamas, New Hampshire, Victoria Island

Favorite Animals

cats have always been my favorite animals, but my son has a Canary Island dog the size of a horse that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

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