Where you lives dictates your potential to meet boys....

Read the article below, even more reason for me to move away from my affectionate ghetto into the elusive Kits area......

There are research companies who claim they can predict with great accuracy what kind of peanut butter you eat, the type of car you drive, how often you mow your lawn and even your underwear preference just by looking at your address. How? According to Simon Simek, a Columbia University Lecturer and President of Simek/Gomes a strategic marketing consulting firm, "people with similar interests tend to cluster together geographically." In other words, people who are like you do things like you do, buy the things that you buy and live in places that are similar to where you live. It makes sense, doesn't it? Think about your city. Don't certain neighborhoods denote their residents' personalities or lifestyles? Young and hip, broke but cool, just broke, family-oriented, or retiree haven? Simek says, "The kinds of choices people make on how they live their lives, how they spend weekends, what they like to eat, and what they like to do will dictate where they live." He claims that where we live is a choice we make based in our psychographics - sort of a personality soup combining our lifestyle, aspirations, social background, personality, education and experiences. It stands to reason then, that if you want to meet someone who has similar interests and values, who enjoys doing the things you enjoy doing, the first place you should look is where you live. Simek adds, "people with similar psychographics by nature are attracted to the same types of areas or neighborhoods." What's more, is that once a neighborhood starts getting a certain reputation (artsy, highbrow, trendy) even more people of that particular group will be attracted. According to Simek, "there's a comfort level established with that - you want to be around people who are similar to yourself." So, although you may be searching high and low for the guy or girl of your dreams, you might want to at least start your search in your own back yard. I'm a strong believer in looking for love close to home - I met my own sweetie at a restaurant right next door to my apartment. There are other advantages to dating people from your own neighborhood. In big cities like LA and New York, it makes sense to stick to your own turf, otherwise you'll end up spending half the night stuck in a cab or worse, in bumper-to-bumper on the freeway. Not having any luck in your neighborhood? Take a look at where you live. If you're not happy with your current digs, Simek suggests that you start searching for dates in areas where you wish you could live. That way, you'll be meeting people with similar aspirations. In fact, the next time you're searching for cuties on Lavalife, try searching by geography (postal code) rather than your usual criteria, whatever that may be (height, weight, income, love of small animals.) You might just find that what you're looking for is a lot closer than you think. Hey, it's worth a try, right? If nothing else, at least you can start your new romance knowing the two of you probably have the same taste in peanut butter.

Lisa Daily is the author of Stop Getting Dumped!

New Running Shoes

I know it seems silly to write about shoes, but alas I love shoes. As evidence by the number and diversity of shoes I own. Shoes, more shoes some sandals thrown in there for good measure.
I bought new Asics Gel 1090 running shoes over the weekend, my new balance were just not cutting it anymore. My visits to the gym have been sporadic at best this fall but I am hoping that cause I bought new shoes then that would be incentive for me to go more. Let me say that I tried out my shoes yesterday on the treadmill and they were lovely. My running was not so lovely but the shoes were great. I have a bit of knee pain and tight shins but I can safely say that it would have been much worst had I not had the new shoes. Let's face it, my body is falling apart and I welcome the day where I could have bionic knees and other various bionic parts. Super hearing, Super eyesight....being able to fly....

P.S. I forgot to extol the virtues of my new boots too, they are "very Char" as my friend put it.

Fall News...

Fall is definately upon us here in Vancouver, it has been raining for the last 2 weeks off and on. When I groggily wake up and crawl out of bed it is still dark out. Then when I do make it up to work after fighting for a seat on the bus with all these fresh faced doe eyed first years, who are looking a bit haggard this week (mid-terms), I look out of my window to see fog and rain. Welcome to Simon Fraser University, home of concrete and rain. Luckily, today is a sunny day and it has almost made me forget about the previous weeks rain, just as the right moment before I go mental from the greyness of it all.

Lately I have taken up knitting again. My friend wanted to learn how to knit so I taught her what little I know and now we have created a Wed. get together called "stitch and bitch". I am in the process of making socks and will probably start on some toques (hats) for my nephew soon. He has outgrown the one I made for him last winter. Let me know if you need a scarf or a new toque, it will keep my busy on the cold winter nights in Vancouver.

I know I appear to be an old lady with my knitting and gossiping but alas, it is a hobby and keeps me out of trouble.