A friend and I concluded recently that many people are more thorough in selecting prospective co-workers than they are about choosing a boyfriend. So I wondered what would happen if I applied standard hiring practices to my love life.

That probably tells you a lot about me in and of itself. Here are some other things you should know:

I'm an artist and student. So if you're looking for a sugar daddy, you're in the wrong place. But since making the decision a few years ago to give up my career and pursue my passion, I'm richer than I've ever been. And that's not just what I tell myself to make it through the rough patches. I honestly love what I do. Plus, I get to play with cake and call it sculpture (thus, the photo).

I'm a bundle of contradictions. I'm both vulnerable and hard to get to know. I'm simultaneously charming and shy. I'm equally demanding and accommodating. And when it comes to looking for a boyfriend, I'm usually drawn to guys who are more my opposite than my twin. But, of course, you can never be sure because, while I may have followed certain patterns in the past, I'm also unpredictable.

I'm a really good listener. I don't know how to elaborate except to say I'm very empathic by nature and I know how it feels to be ashamed of your true feelings. In my experience, listening to silence together can be just as powerful as talking things through.

My best is yet to come. I'm not immune to the pressures of being a gay man, and I know I'm supposed to be afraid of getting older. But I'm pretty convinced my best years are going to be in my 50s. That's why, when I turned 35 a few months ago, I decided to embrace my age instead of apologizing for it. The way I see it, the next 15 years are a great opportunity to lay the ground work for something really amazing.

I have high expectations. Not just of myself, but of my friends and family, too. Sometimes it means I'm disappointed, but usually it means the people who stick around are worth holding on to. Like a lot of things, it's both a blessing and a curse.

I'm just a regular guy. I'm not drop-dead handsome. And I'm not super-buff, though I am fit and lean (it's the marathons). I'm about 5'10". Brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, an eyebrow piercing, no tattoos. For what it's worth, I'm told I have nice eyes, a great smile and a strong jaw. Oh yeah, and I'm notoriously camera shy.

And, finally, I'm positive. Let's just get this one out of the way now. I've been HIV+ and healthy for 15 years. For some of you, that will be a deal-breaker. For others, it won't be an issue. I don't take it personally either way, but I figure you should know before you apply.