Let's see ... the last women I dated that I could safely call "girlfriends" included an attorney and a voice coach/voiceover artist. Women I've had dates with in the recent past include a hotel sales manager, Internet marketing firm owner, singer, hotel concierge, pharmacist, and a television news reporter.
I've historically clicked well with other planners (although dating opportunities have seldom come up), print and broadcast media professionals, visual and performing artists, and marketing professionals. I had a huge crush on a traffic engineer at my last job, but she dated "Joe Colorado" types -- the 6'2" six-pack abbed types who lead lifestyles from the pages of Outdoor magazine.
This sounds a bit elitist, but I prefer dating women that are either students or working professionals ... basically, a peer. Political orientation doesn't matter, but I don't fancy the prospect of long term companionship with someone who is evangelical or fundamentalist in their faith. I don't want to be viewed as a potential subject for witnessing and/or conversion, or as less equal because of my spiritual beliefs. Likewise, I feel like I' m walking on eggshells when I've with someone who is too crunchy and/or progressive. One ex considered my picky eating to be racist because I was "shunning the foods" of certain cultures. Seriously.
Several years ago, at an APA national conference in Orlando, I had the huevos to ask a woman who was in line at a buffet to join me for lunch. We were buddies throughout the conference, and we really hit it off quite well. We've gotten together at every conference I've been to after that. Much as I wanted to, I never kissed her, never tried to "make a move." The logistics of long distance romance, especially to someone who is romantically challenged like me, would be a very difficult barrier to jump.
