Well hello there. In case your deductive reasoning skills aren't in shape, my name is Cristen. I've been in Southwest Florida for about 6 and a half years. I moved down here in 2006 to go to school at FGCU. I graduated a couple years ago and am now working as a microbiologist in Naples. I promise it's not nearly as scary as it sounds. That being said, I am a science nerd at heart and love to learn. And when I say nerd I mean that I'm awesome, not socially inept ;)
I'm funny, smart, independent, and hard-working. I'm sarcastic and enjoy inappropriate jokes more than I should. I am in love with the outdoors, particularly the ocean. I love kayaking, SCUBA diving, going to the beach, and going boating. I would spend every day underwater if I could. There's something amazingly easy about being underwater. Everything else goes away and it's just you and the sound of your breathing. I love it more than anything. I also enjoy spending time outdoors up here on terra firma. I like going hiking, four-wheeling, camping, and just generally exploring the world.
I love animals and have a 9 month old puppy named Sagan. You get extra points if you know where she gets her namesake. I'm one of those crazy people who parks her car on the side of a busy 6-lane highway and plays Frogger in traffic to ensure a turtle makes it safely across. I've also been known to catch snakes in the parking lot of my apartment complex and move them to the woods to avoid being killed. I get some weird looks now and then, but I'll take that if it means a harmless snake lives to slither another day.
I have recently lost a significant amount of weight (45 pounds and counting...) and am continuing that process with a personal trainer and frequent gym & home workouts. I've still got a long ways to go, I know, but I'm quite pleased with the progress I've made so far. I just registered for my first 5K in March to benefit a research center on the east coast of Florida and I'm planning to participate in the Tough Mudder in Tampa in November. That being said, I'm as active as I can be between work and home responsibilities. I go to the gym after work a few days a week and when I can't make it to the gym I try and go for a run once I'm home. Everyday when I look in the mirror I'm happier than I was the day before. I know I'm not perfect, but I am happy.
I'm looking for a real relationship with someone who knows what they want. I'd love to meet someone who shares my love of the outdoors and exploring. Someone that would drive for 45 minutes in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower, or join me on a kayak trip around Rookery Bay. I'd like to find someone with a sense of self and ambitions for the future. I am a genuine, down to earth, independent, loyal, and honest person. I love everything about my life, and all I'm missing is that one person to come home to.
