NAME: Aidan Alexander Blake
AGE/ D.O.B: 55 11/20/1952
WHERE IN THE PORTLAND AREA DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?: Gladstone
WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP ARE YOU SEARCHING SINGLED.COM FOR?: All of the above, I suppose
WHAT IS YOUR SEXUAL PREFERENCE?: Heterosexual
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PUT THE WORK REQUIRED INTO ONE?: I've had my fair share of long distance relationships, but I think that I'm too old for them now. I'm set in my ways and settled in my home. I'd rather have someone I wasn't forced to travel to see, or have travel to come see me. So, I suppose that's a no. I wouldn't be willing to put the work in.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION? DO YOU ENJOY YOUR JOB?: I've spent most of my life working as a theatrical critic. I started in London right after my graduation from Cambridge, and eventually I brought my particular talent for tearing theatrical productions apart to the United States. I worked in New York City for several years before making my final move to the Portland area. I currently write reviews of the previews that open in the San Francisco area. I actually quite enjoy my career - it's never felt like a "job" to me and I couldn't imagine ever retiring from it, unless I was forced into it somehow.
DOES YOUR CURRENT JOB REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVELLING?: It requires short trips to San Francisco a few times a month, but nothing lengthy or extensive. Usually I travel only on the weekends and spend my week at home working on my reviews.
ARE YOU CURRENTLY SINGLE/WIDOWED/DIVORCED? WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE WITH SOMEONE OF THE SAME STATUS?: Widowed. Honestly I'd prefer not to be with a fellow widow - I think it would be entirely too dark for me to handle. It's hard enough having to deal with the grief on my own wife's passing but to have to take on the grief of someone else for their husband would be a bit more than I'm willing to handle at the moment.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PHYSICAL TRAIT YOU LOOK FOR IN A POTENTIAL MATCH?: I tend to notice eyes, I suppose. I've really stopped paying much attention to physical attributes in the past several years.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PHYSICAL TRAIT YOU AVOID WHEN LOOKING FOR A POTENTIAL MATCH?: I couldn't say. I wouldn't hold a physical flaw against someone if they had a strong enough personality behind it.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EMOTIONAL TRAIT ?: I'd rather be with someone who isn't overly emotional or romantic. I've never been able to force myself to be a romantic and I'm too old now to start trying.
WHAT EMOTIONAL TRAIT DO YOU AVOID?: I'm not sure what the word to describe it is ... clingy, perhaps? I can't stand someone who is so emotionally needy they drain everyone around them. I'm not looking for anyone where I'll be forced to constantly reassure of them of my interest or emotional attachment.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSONALITY TRAIT?: Independence. I think being independent in your relationships is incredibly important. I want an intellectual partner, not an extra appendage.
WHAT PERSONALITY TRAIT DO YOU AVOID?: I've never been able to stand someone who feels it necessary to continuously draw attention to themselves. I've already raised a daughter so I've quite had my fill of dealing with cases of the 'look at me's. I would much rather someone confidant enough in themselves not need to blatantly draw attention to themselves.
IF SOMEONE HAD AN EVEN MIX OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TRAITS, WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THEM?: It would really depend on which negative traits, and which positives traits were present. I think I'd have to take it on case by case.
ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RELATIOSHIP?: I don't think there's such a thing as a relationships without sacrifices. If you aren't willing to make a sacrifice for someone you care about then you aren't prepared to be in a relationship at all.
WHAT IS YOUR DEEPEST REGRET?: I'll always regret not doing more to help my wife when she was ill. I know nothing I could have done would have prevented the inevitable but there's always going to be that nagging doubt at the back of mind as to whether or not I really did all that I could, even when it came to the small things like bringing her water or a pillow when she was in her last days. I don't think there's anything I really could have done to erase the guilt though, if I was given a second chance.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE?: The birth of my daughter, without any doubt. For as much trouble as she's caused me she'll always be my pride and joy.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?: I think now my greatest fear is either having something happen to my daughter or somehow losing the ability to continue with my work as I slowly approach the age of 'senility' as my daughter likes to call it.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? WHY?: It's a horribly hokey old classic, but I do enjoy watching 'It's A Wonderful Life' every year at Christmas time. I'm not sure if it's because I truly enjoy the movie, or if it's more so because I enjoy the tradition of it after all of these years.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? WHY?: The Catcher In The Rye has always been a favorite of mine. Something about the narration just struck a chord with me when I first read it and I've found myself turning back to it every time I'm in need of a bit of comfort. Again I think it may be in part because I find comfort in it's familiarity after all this time.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS?: It's comfortable, to say the least.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE OF A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL STATUS? WHY OR WHY NOT?: It would really depend on how much our incomes varied, and how they treated money. It's very easy to be politically correct and say that money doesn't matter but we all know that's not true and I wouldn't be interested in a relationship with anyone who was looking for handouts, but I wouldn't immediately write off someone who was in a different tax bracket.
HOW MUCH OF A ROLE DOES MONEY PLAY IN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS?: It really depends on the situation, I think, and on the other person. Money is most certainly not the most important thing in my life and I wouldn't let it be a completely controlling force in my relationship but I think eventually, if things progress, money becomes rather important.
DOES YOUR JOB REQUIRE LONG HOURS? WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE WHO WORKED LONG HOURS?: I set my own hours and I don't think I work an excessive amount. The most I work at one time is when I'm away to see a play in San Francisco. I wouldn't be opposed to someone who worked long hours. I think being industrious is an admirable quality and I wouldn't hold it against anyone if they wanted to further their career as much as they could.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL FIRST DATE?: First date. That's funny. I haven't been on a first date in such a long time, I hardly remember what they're like at all. I suppose, however, that were I forced to choose I'd like something simple and the less awkward it is the better. I hate those first meeting jitters you tend to get where for the first twenty minutes all you talk about are your pets, your children, and the weather. I'd rather like to have a 'first date' that skipped over all that and got right to the compelling conversation.
DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT MATCH THROUGH SINGLED.COM?: I'm not entirely convinced, but my daughter seems to put a great deal of faith into this whole system, so I'll give it a go for her sake.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST FAUX PAX PEOPLE MAKE WHEN MEETING NEW PEOPLE?: I think it's a mix between not wanting to talk about yourself, for fear of looking vain, and talking about yourself too much. Too many people are afraid to say anything about themselves at all during a first meeting and it can kill the conversation in five minutes flat, and other's are so anxious to talk about themselves that the other person is bored to tears in just as short a time. I think it's important to find a comfortable mix of both in order to consider a first meeting successful.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT MEETING NEW PEOPLE?: Be yourself. Plain and simple. It might be cliche to say, but no one wants to hold a conversation with someone who doesn't want to share, or is trying to be something they aren't. If you're comfortable just being who you are your first meeting with anyone will be a breeze.
DO YOU PREFER A TRADITIONAL STYLE OF RELATIONSHIP? WHY OR WHY NOT?: Define 'traditional'.
DO YOU PREFER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SETTINGS FOR DATES?: A first date should always be somewhere public. That way if it's a complete disaster you have an easy way out. Beyond that I'd rather be someplace where it's private and quiet. I think conversation during dates has become somewhat of a myth now a days but I'm old fashioned and like to talk to the person I'm with, get to know them a bit, and that's rather hard when you're sitting across a table at a crowded restaurant on a Friday night.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE?: I have a daughter, who is my waking world. I think I'm far too old to be chasing toddlers and changing diapers now, however. So, no. No, children for me if I can help it.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ADOPTION?: I wouldn't think of adopting myself, at this time in my life, but I think that it's a brilliant thing to do otherwise. If my wife hadn't had our daughter I'm sure we would have adopted, we were so desperate for a child.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ABORTION?: It isn't a choice I could ever see myself personally having to make so I'll have to resign myself to the fact that it's really just 'none of my business'.
ON WHAT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM DO YOUR BELIEFS LIE?: I like to consider myself politically neutral. I'm not radical in either direction and I'm honestly more concerned with who's a better candidate than what party they serve or what wing they're on.
WOULD YOU PREFER SOMEONE WITH THE SAME POLITICAL BELIEFS? WHY OR WHY NOT?: It wouldn't really matter to me. I'm of the belief that you simply don't talk about sex, religion, or politics so I suppose it would very rarely be discussed.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT PRACTICED RELIGION?: I'm a Roman Catholic by birth but I've drifted from the church in present years.
WOULD YOU PREFER SOMEONE OF THE SAME RELIGIOUS BELIEFS? WHY OR WHY NOT?: It's of no consequence to me. I'm not overtly concerned with anyone elses beliefs as long as they aren't overtly concerned with mine. If we have an understanding not to discuss religion to the point that there's an argument I don't see why there should be any difficulty when it comes to having a relationship with someone who practices a religion different from my own.
ARE YOU A NEAT FREAK? WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE DATING SOMEONE WHO WAS/WAS NOT?: I have an order I like to keep things in. I wouldn't call it 'neat' per say but I know where everything is and I like it that way. I wouldn't want anyone storming into my house and upsetting my system, but if someone wanted to come in and dust the place up a little bit I certainly wouldn't be opposed.
DO YOU ENJOY COOKING?: On occasion. I wouldn't call myself an accomplished chef by any means however.
DO YOU ENJOY THE OUTDOORS? WHAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?: I've been known to go camping from time to time but overall I'd have to say no. I'm not a great fan of the outdoors unless it's something simple like hiking or admiring the foliage.
DO YOU ENJOY CULTURAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE THEATER AND GALLERY OPENINGS? WHAT CULTURAL ACTIVITY DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?: I do indeed. I'm a great fan of the theater, obviously, but I also enjoy art in it's other forms, particularly sculpture and painting. I've attended several gallery openings in both California and New York and I would certainly go to more if the opportunity presented itself. It's an incredible atmosphere.
WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TEACHING SOMEONE ELSE ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES YOU ENJOY?: It would really depend on if they were interested or not, and if they had the patience to hear me go on, and on. If they were and did then I'd have no problem teaching them whatever they wanted to know.
WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND THE NIGHT IN OR OUT?: It would depend on what 'out' entailed. A night at the theater is always welcomed but a trip to a bar would be completely out. I think overall I'd rather spend the night in if I'm given the choice. I've become a bit of a homebody in my old age.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT DATING PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN YOURSELF?: I've never given it much thought? How much younger, exactly?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT DATING PEOPLE OLDER THAN YOURSELF?: I don't know, honestly, how comfortable I'd feel dating an older woman. The idea was very exciting in my youth but now that I'm older myself, I think I'd rather have a younger woman who I have a better chance of outliving in the end.
WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DATING SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN RACE?: Yes. It would be foolish to throw away a potentially successful relationship away over something as inconsequential as race.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS. DO YOU BELIEVE ALL THESE TRAITS ARE POSITIVE? ARE SOME NEGATIVE?: Strong willed. Opinionated. Stubborn. Cultured. I don't know how many of them are positive, but I'd say a great deal could come off as overwhelmingly negative if you weren't already used to my personality.
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF?: I suppose the fact that I'm so dead set against change. I like things to stay the same and unfortunately in this life, things don't usually work out that way.
ARE YOU MORE ANALYTICAL ( LEFT BRAINED ) OR CREATIVE ( RIGHT BRAINED )?: I'd have to say I'm a healthy mix of the both. I think in order to be completely efficient you have to be able to use both sides equally. If I had to choose one or the other though, under penalty of death, I'd go with Left Brained.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT OPPOSITES ATTRACT?: I do, actually. If you're having a conversation with your 'clone' things are bound to get boring sooner or later. When you're with someone who's your opposite I'd wager that things are almost always exciting.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN A YEAR? IN FIVE? IN TEN?: I don't like to think about the future beyond tomorrow. And tomorrow I'd like to see myself at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the Arts and Leisure section.
YOU'RE OFFERED A CHOICE BETWEEN A STRAIGHT PATH LEADING TO THE PERFECT LIFE OR A PATH FILLED WITH TWIST AND TURNS LEADING TO AN UNDEFINED DESTINATION. WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?: After a life completely full of twists and turns I think having a defined path that lead right to where it claimed to lead would be a great relief, to be honest. I know that I'm supposed to say that I'd love to keep twisting and turning, that I'm adventurous, but honestly, by now I'm ready to just find the end of my path and live it out.