Delfino

6'0", 195#, fit, blue eyes, blond, Slavic(Ukrainian-Belorussian)/Italian. Eclectic in background and interests. PhD in biology. Work as a research forest pathologist. Education and interests in science, classical and eastern music, literature, poetry. I'm a pretty good cook: bake bread, and have dabbled in various types of cuisines (especially Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, French, Mexican, and did I mention Italian?). I've worked as a commercial fisherman in northern California, and spent 9 years in construction as a tilesetter before returning to college. Spiritually, member of an independent Catholic all-welcoming church, bu also with an interest in eastern philosophical systems, particularly Vipassana Buddhism.

Anywhere I can do open-water swimming is great for me. For getaways, sometimes it feels right to get away from crowds, cities, noise, cars, etc. But other times day or few in a big city feels exactly right; the best being, of course, NYC including (and especially) the boroughs. Quebec and Montreal are great cities; San Francisco (lived there, done that). Still learning the Whites, western Mass., and Maine, and want to refamiliarize myself with the Adirondacks and Catskills. Know the Sierras and mountains of Arizona and four corners quite well, too.

Lots of hiking, weekend trail running with my dog Gracie. Excellent swimmer. Novice kayaker. Excellent (or used to be) cross-country skiier. Very experienced (maybe rusty) backpacker. Will someday improve fly fishing skills (used to build rods and tie flies).