Ah, how do I describe me? How do I put the essentials of this person known as Richard into a short profile? How does one publish the essence of self into a few paragraphs? That is the puzzle and here is the answer.

I am a man with a quirky sense of humor as life is full of joy and wonder. This little ball of rock, mud and water that we all share known as Earth is an incredible place, with many secrets to discover. Our corner of the universe is filled with beings, some happy and some sad, who each have their own special story to tell. My philosophy is to take life with a light heart; I just approach each day as a new source of joy and happiness. Those things which are evil or bad get ignored, discarded or defeated; the good gets helped, enriched and fulfilled.

I've spent the day hiking the Wonderland of Rocks in Joshua Tree after the spring rains, crawling over boulders and peering at Indian pictographs. I've been on boats to the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara, and I've stared in fascination at wasps building their homes in Anza-Borrego. I love walking the beaches of California, seeing the mountains, hiking through the snow and smelling the desert after a rain.

To me life is filled with friendship; in fact, you can tell the character of a being from the quality of his friends. The people that I call "friend" are wonderful, caring beings, with whom I share my life, experiences and happiness. These are the people who listen without interrupting, understand other people's feelings, build up others with positive energy and don't tear people down with bad news and problems.

Work is very important; in many ways one's job defines one's self. I love my job and feel fulfilled at doing a decent days work for a decent wage every single time I leave the office. I work hard to ensure that every minute of the time I spend at work is for the benefit of my employer and those people whom I manage. My time is precious, so I ensure that my work does not come home with me; I maintain a strict demarcation between my work life and my home life. In this way, I ensure my life remains balanced and full of happiness.

To completely round things out, my spiritual side is of critical importance. I spend many hours studying how to help myself, my family, the groups to which I belong, mankind, life, the physical universe, spirits and, of course, God and the infinite universe. I've learned that I can contribute to the betterment of society, I can help others, and that I am a good and caring being.

I'm very happy with myself and my life, and I am satisfied with the paths that I have chosen. I am a writer, and am currently working on a fantasy novel. My hobbies include photography, stamp collecting, reading science fiction and fantasy, watching movies, painting fantasy miniatures, studying history and helping people as often as possible. I enjoy curling up with a good book, a cup of hot chocolate and listening to some good music.