Date men from United States / California / Mather, 57 year old

Date someone special from Mather, United States. New job, new location, new airplane, new picture (June 19th 2012)! Strange days indeed.
My primary residence is still my house at Lake Tahoe, but I'll be working in Rancho Cordova for the foreseeable future. After I finished my contract in Salt Lake City early this year, I set out to finish my second novel and get my flight instructor license before going back to a "real" job. The book, "Circle of Fire", is now published, and the only thing I have left for my flight instructor rating is to take the test flight, which I should be able to complete this month. I've gotten all of the motorcycles fixed up and ready to ride for the summer!
About me, and who I'm looking for. I am entertaining, cheerful, and smart. I like to fly, ride motorcycles, and explore the back roads. Sometimes, I like to just sit on one of the decks and watch the trees grow and listen to the birds.
I've always been fascinated with politics, and I have been involved actively in one way or another for over 20 years. Science, nature, and history fascinate me as well. I enjoy debate and philosophical discussions. I've recently been studying cosmology, and the biology of human behavior.
I love to get together with friends, either to go out, or stay home and talk and play cards, or whatever. I like to travel and go places for weekend trips (particularly if I can fly there myself), but I don't like to be gone for weeks at a time. I've never been to Europe as an adult, and I'd like to go sometime, Switzerland being my particular interest. Also England, since I have ancestors from there. But, I moved to Lake Tahoe because I love being here, and mostly that's what I like to do. I've been here 17 years now, and it would take a small nuclear weapon to pry me away from the place. If major travelling is a major part of what you're looking for in a relationship, I'm not your guy.
I've decided it's time for me to learn Spanish. I took six years of French as a kid, and was fluent at the end of that time, so that should help with learning Spanish. I'd like to be able to have basic conversations by the end of the year. I'll feel comfortable that I really know the language when I write my first science fiction story in Spanish!
I'm looking for a woman who is entertaining, cheerful, and smart. I'm more interested in a quick wit than formal education. I want someone who likes to do things outside, but who isn't frantic about it, and enjoys sitting together at home as much as they do having the wind in their face on a beautiful motorcycle ride. If I meet someone and we turn out to be just friends, that's certainly fine. But I'm really looking for a mate.
I'm a major animal lover, and I'm looking for a woman who is also an animal lover. My house at Tahoe has a large, fully fenced back yard perfectly suited for even large dogs (my dog weighs 130 lbs). It really wouldn't work for me to get involved with someone who doesn't love animals.
I'm looking for a woman who loves to be together, and is comfortable being apart. Someone who wants a close mate, but is also comfortable with themselves.
I exercise 4 or 5 times a week on the treadmill, but I do it because it's good for me, not because I like it. If you're into fanatic exercise or frantic physical activity for "relaxation", we probably won't be a good match.
I'm looking for a woman who will value my writing and creative side as much as she values my ability to make money and do "real" work. Everyone has good qualities, and bad qualities. One of my best qualities is my intelligence. I very much want a woman who values inteligence as an important...essential, really...characteristic in their mate.
Be well!
:-)
TCS