Eastbaylinda, 73

I’m an intelligent, warm, fit, open-minded, attractive, creative, sexy, financially stable, retired lawyer (no permanent harm done, I assure you). I enjoy dining out, travel, outdoors activities (including rollerblading, skiing, and hiking), movies, theater, aikido, and trying new things. I’m now a writer, editor and artist with lots of free time. I enjoy dressing up and am equally comfortable in jeans. I have lots of good friends, but I haven’t found that special lover and companion. I’m looking for someone who is grounded yet slightly eccentric, with a good sense of humor.

I train in aikido and am serious about it if not really very good. It's a wonderful martial art that aims to let you protect yourself without harming the attacker, but more than that, it's a community of friends and the best teacher I have ever had at anything. I ski when I can, run when I have to in order to keep fit. Being "creative" has to do with writing and making art, specifically jewelry and painting and other silly ideas that crop up from time to time (for example, I have a giraffe in my living room that I made from fiberglass.)

I am truly a nice person. I've given up flipping off drivers on the highway in favor of a more mellow attitude that even prompts me to let others into "my" lane. I like to read, have candlelit dinners and walk on the beach with everybody else (it does get crowded there with all those people from the personals ads). I work at home and have the days pretty free.

I have a son who is 16 and very interesting. I love to travel and took him to Wales and Thailand to study languages. I've traveled a lot. I'm a widow.

I'm especially interested in recycling and other ways of keeping our planet alive.