I have a strong sense of adventure. I love to travel but am decidedly not a tourist. I have an uncommon mix of hobbies - urban exploration, geocaching, orienteering, powered paragliding, caving, hiking, biking, and ... [more]

I have a strong sense of adventure. I love to travel but am decidedly not a tourist. I have an uncommon mix of hobbies - urban exploration, geocaching, orienteering, powered paragliding, caving, hiking, biking, and climbing, among others. I am very adventurous when it comes to going places, and I am always looking for more out of life. However, I really enjoy having stable and reliable friends and family - I am not adventurous when it comes to people.

I starred in the movie "Urban Explorers" by Melody Gilbert - see http://www.urbanexplorersfilm.com/ My exploring nickname is Slim Jim, and for that reason most of my friends call me Jim.

I've written ten songs with more on the way. They're a unique style most similar to rockabilly. Check them out at www.myspace.com/millcitytailracers .

I've set an orienteering course for the Minnesota Orienteering Club the last couple years, and received a lot of positive feedback on my courses. I plan on setting one course each year in the future.

I own powerbocking stilts (google search it if you're curious) but haven't had the time to learn how to run fast or jump with them. I own a foldable bike and ride it fairly often. At some point, I'm planning on getting a motorcycle, probably next year.

I'm generally serious as opposed to humorous, but I love having fun.

I have no interest in watching football, baseball, etc. They're boring as hell to me. I'd much rather participate in sports than watch them, and most of the sports I like are non-team, outdoorsy stuff.

I am dependable and open-minded. I would encourage you to do what you truly enjoy doing, and not worry about "fitting in."

I am VERY honest, but the flipside to that is that I fully expect other people to be honest with me. I will be completely forthright with you, and I won't try to make myself look better than I really am. However, I am not perceptive, so you should also be forthright with me and not rely on hints to communicate. I prefer for people to be brutally honest, even if it's negative.

I really like having fun, and I try to plan things out to have the most fun possible.

Most people might consider me eccentric, but I really like who I am and what I enjoy doing.

Other characteristics that describe me - energetic, willing to try new things, prompt, straightforward, goal-oriented, analytical, unique, organized, particular, forgetful, and not perceptive.

I drive and bike around for fun. I enjoy getting lost or disoriented and then coming around a corner and discovering I'm someplace I didn't expect to be. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen to me that often because the streets and roads in the Midwest are almost always square to the world and I have a really good sense of direction. My favorite place to wander in the metro area is the extensive confusing bike trail system in Chaska.

Some people think it's weird that I own and use a breathalyzer.

I'm slightly rebellious towards the status quo, in a number of ways. Particularly when it comes to pointless crap that hurts or inconveniences people but doesn't help anyone.

I graduated with a Master of Engineering in Professional Practice from UW-Madison in 2008. It's a challenging program and I have no idea how but I managed to graduate with a 4.0 GPA. I'm very relieved not to have to constantly worry about getting my studying done anymore, and it's great to have free time again to do fun things with.

I've started started saving considerably with the hopes of retiring at age 45-50 and spending the rest of my life living frugally while traveling around the world, having fun, goofing off, maybe writing fast rockabilly music, and maybe writing a book about exploring. Since I have this goal, I try to avoid spending money unnecessarily, I'm not opposed to spending a few bucks now and then for fun. And I'm definitely not going to cut back on gas money on the weekends and vacation. This goal might change too - I may have kids someday, or a number of other lifestyle changes. It's hard to say at this point what will happen 20 years down the road.

Some people say live for today because tomorrow may never come. Others say live and plan for the future. I say do a bit of both. Why live if you're always going to be planning for tomorrow until you die and never get to enjoy what you've done? On the other hand, if you spend all your money today you'll have nothing left to enjoy tomorrow with and you'll regret it.

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