Must get my sense of humour and have one of his own.
Must be at least as smart as me, within about 1 standard deviation. Freakishly smart is OK too.
Must have job of some description.
Non-smoker.
No alcoholics or drug addicts.
Must be kind to animals and must like my dog and not object to the fact that he sleeps on the bed, period.
More of a preference is he has to be my age or older. I’ve dated a few younger guys and haven’t been that impressed. (It could depend on the younger guy.)
My first Really Serious Relationship, which ended poorly but without legal entanglements (thankfully), taught me that my SO had to be someone who enjoys what they do for a living but whose life isn’t defined by their career.
That was the big one. Of importance as well were a sparkling wit, a dry sense of humor, and a generally optimistic outlook.
I’ve made out very, very well with my current SO (with whom I am very happily legally entangled).
She has to be honest about her feelings
open-minded
have definite opinions on things without being judgmental or belligerent
be intelligent
have a love of non-useful knowledge, trivia, reference materials, enjoys dictionaries and encyclopedias as much, if not more, than fiction
has a strong sense of self, individualistic
no hard drugs
no religion
not into pro sports
non-materialistic
must love animals
must vote
appreciates fair-trade, environmental concerns
loves to learn new things
speaks freely, not overly-pc
must love music
must have a big libido, sensual and very kinky
and yes, I already found her! yay me!
First and foremost - must be remotely interested in me - which in real life automatically excludes, um, very nearly everyone - but after that, the things that can be put on a quick checklist would be:
Male
Approximately my age
Christian
At least a bachelors degree
No kids
Highly Preferably Single (not divorced - definitely not still married)
No smoking or chemical addictions
Reasonably financially stable
Reasonably mentally & physically healthy
Ther are other, more intangible, but still important, things like “kind,” or “good sense of humor” that have to be observed, especially since most people think they have those types of qualities.
He can’t already have children. I was raised by a saint who went through that and although I love her for it, I can’t do it. Also, no OMGNOKIDSEVER guys.
No smoking. No drug addictions. No polyamorists. No Zealots. Must be kind to people and animals. Must have a sense of humor and place some value on knowledge. Must not be a pig or a slob. Must not have readymade definitions of the opposite sex that will be used to pigeonhole or dismiss me. Must be loyal, and aspire to be a good, honorable person. Must not be the haughty, scoffing at everything he doesn’t already embrace type. Please no emo kids.
And it would suck if he smelled bad.
Is anyone else just getting pH indicators for google adds? =]
Dealbreakers:
smoking, intolerance to pets, wants kids.
Other than that, there are things I look for, but nothing that would turn me off as a habit or personality trait. A combo of other things might do it, though.
I found a pet-loving, once-a-year cigar smoking, child-free guy. I’m good.
I thought it was a girl’s sales pitch to convice the guy she isn’t after expensive dinners every night, that she cares more about his “hopes and dreams” than his wallet.
But I gotta agree, most beaches near me are windy and smelly and really tiring to walk on. I want those fancy dinners and night clubs and parties every night. Someplace to wear your favorite new clothes.
I’m taken right now, but just to add mine:
Adam
Requirements
Monogamous
Views marriage as “til death”… not “If it doesn’t work, we’ll just get divorced.”
Similar ethics
Respectful of my beliefs (or lack of)
Physically healthy and fit
Goofy/funny - makes me laugh
Absolutely no smoking, drugs or alcohol
Does not want children.
Preferences
Not into going clubbing, partying, etc.
Not into pro sports
No cats or little yappy dogs
Not controlling
Non-political
Similar interests: cars, food, events, music
Bonus
Wants to adopt racing greyhounds (when we can accomodate a pet).
Can keep up with me on skates (we both used to speedskate)
Mr Johnson is a rare find…
Indeed. That’s why I won’t post in this thread or else I could end up with a stupid, stingy, quick-tempered, racist right-winger.
A place of her own.
A job to support it.
Laughs with me and occasionally at me.
Digs my cat and other critters.
No kids and doesn’t want any.
Non-smoker.
Great legs and ass.
If we’re talking deal breakers:
Must be honest
Must have no kids
No cats (OK, vaguely negotiable is one cat provided you have some sense of perspective re the cat’s position i.e. it being a pet and thus inferior to, say, me)
Must not be obese
Must not have personal hygiene problem
Must have job (any job will do)
Must be at least a social drinker
Must have some remote style with clothes/hair
Must care at least a little about some music, even its No Doubt or Maroon 5
Must have ended all previous romantic relationships
No drugs other than alcohol (and I think it goes without saying that she not be an alcoholic.)
Intelligent (not genius or anything, but not an idiot)
Like lots of sometimes kinky sex.
Nerdy or geeky to some degree
Must like dogs (I don’t have one now, but do plan to get one once I can.)
Fabulously wealthy.
Doesn’t mind being a Sugar-Momma.
Won’t insist on pre-nup.
See, I a pretty easy guy to please. Anyone interested?
Oo, I forgot about that one. When I was trying to find a guy online, I absolutely refused to consider anyone who wasn’t reachable by Boston public transit. I don’t have a car, and I don’t want to be dependent on his, and I have a limit of one long-distance relationship per lifetime, which I’ve already used up. Fortunately, Boston has good public transit and more young single guys than you can shake a stick at.
No gag reflex.
Looks good in a bathing suit.
Has her own money, and no interest in mine.
Can fix a dry martini.
She still may have an interest in your ability/desire to get your own, as an indicator of your fitness to protect and provide. Even if she wants/needs neither. Biological imperative, y’unnerstan’.
Yeah, I’ve been doing the online dating thing off and on for years and I still struggle with where to draw the line distance-wise. Now, most of my profiles just say something like “Getting together for dinner shouldn’t require an Act of Congress.” 
Tell ya what… I’ll look for what interests me, and you can worry about micro-scale evolution on your own time. If it’s any consolation, I’m not interested in ‘child-bearin’ hips’, so it’s all fair.