Date men and women from United States / California / Playa Vista, 38 year old

Date someone special from California, United States. I just got back on this site after being off for a while. I am SO ready to meet the right person and frustrated that it's so difficult. I hate that dating is 'work' when it doesn't work out because what I really want is a great relationship, not an endless string of dinners and dates that involve asking 'So, how many brothers and sisters do you have?" Oh well, as a wise person once said (Probably a woman): 'You gotta be in it to win it." So here goes:
I'm the type of person that enjoys life just fine on my own but would prefer to find someone to share it with. I have a nice life and a simple routine that mainly involves hike/bikes with my dog, seeing my family on a regular basis, and working on a novel I hope to get published soon (actually done with the first and working on the sequel now). I believe in good old fashion values and earnestly try to make the world a better place as much as I can. I have a passion for doing volunteer work with kids and am still very much a kid at heart.
A few other things I enjoy include camping, skiing, snowboarding, and scuba diving – actually pretty much anything outdoors will do. I used to play basketball regularly but have retired due to chronic injuries. I also coached kids for years and absolutely loved it. I take frequent weekend getaways to the desert (family has a vacation house out there - no I am not camping in 100 degree heat!) but also love my neighborhood and am quite content to spend a whole summer being near the beach without going anywhere else. What can I say, I was raised in Santa Monica and everyone I love lives near me.
I believe in spirituality and that each of us has to find and create our own unique relationship with our higher power, just like we are responsible for finding and creating our own happiness. If you believe in the strict dogma of a specific religion and the belief that �I’m right and everyone who doesn’t believe what I believe is wrong’ then we definitely will not get along.
My perfect match is someone who is well balanced with an adventurous spirit. She'll be an inspiration to me in how she lives her life and in the way she affects others. She needs to be intelligent with a thirst for knowledge because I am always striving to learn and grow. She needs to be caring, generous and have a sense of purpose about herself and her life. She needs to be compassionate and care about kids as well. If she is outgoing and assertive that's also great. Basically, I want to be with someone whom I respect as a person and who has qualities I aspire to have.
Beyond that are things that I don't need but never hurt; being tall, beautiful, smart and funny are big bonuses but not essentials. Ok, tall actually may be an essential. I'm 6'2" and want a woman that is within 1/2 a foot of me if possible. What’s on the inside is far more important to me but the truth is that I want the whole package. I think I deserve that. I think we all do :-)
Note - I am not big on winks. If you really want to get my attention, please send an email and have something to say.