I've just moved back to NY after half a lifetime living in Boston, Dublin, and the west coast of Ireland. I moved back so I could be closer to my dad, who's getting a little doddery, but the bonus is that I'm not far from my little nephew who I adore. My family and friends are really important to me. Still finding my way back to life in New York and not really settled in yet! I probably most miss having a big gang of people around to hit the pub with. So I'm joining Match to see can I find a suitable partner in crime...
I'm hoping to find a razor-sharp guy who is kind and fun. I hope he'll like to go on adventures, ranging from late-night ice-cream hunts to badly planned jaunts to random cities. I'm really looking for a best friend and soulmate - conversations that last for hours, just enjoying laughing and being in each other's company.
I just finished an MPA up in Boston, which is sort of like an MBA for people interested in public service. This means I like to talk about politics and will sometimes burst out singing "kumbaya", though I'm getting a handle on that last bit. Going back to school as a 'mid-career' was probably the most fun and interesting thing I could have done, and I'm so glad I was able to do it. I also have a degree in Irish literature, so as you can see I've always been really practical and into making the big bucks. I do a lot of writing in my work, and I love it (though not so much writing this little blurb about myself!)
I'm really grateful for my friends, though I wish they weren't scattered all over the world. I've known some of my closest pals for over 20 years but I still like finding new ones. I really enjoy things like meeting friends for coffee, going for long walks, seeing live music, checking out random galleries, chatting over a glass of wine. I've never been much of a shopper - I'm more into having fun experiences. I do have a soft spot for farmers' markets and little craft shops, particularly if they're in pokey New England towns.
I'm a (nearly) life-long vegetarian of the non-preachy variety, and have semi-fond memories of snacking happily on bacon as a four-year-old. I love hole-in-the-wall Italian places and have a terrible weakness for great pizza, although more than a decade in Ireland forced me to expand my pizza quality tolerance. I adore cozy pubs (particularly on rainy nights in the West of Ireland) and listening to live music in small venues.
For my pop culture, I like funny - David Sedaris makes me laugh out loud. I don't watch a ton of TV but Curb Your Enthusiasm, Peep Show and The Office are among my favorites (I do have a particular weakness for terrible reality television, which was probably a major factor in my decision to ditch my TV several years ago.) I love the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the Atlantic. This American Life and The Moth podcast both make me very happy.
