History

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity." - Cicero

I've always been interested in knowing why things are the way they are. As a kid I enjoyed watching the evening news. Knowing where the status quo of today comes from gives you a certain amount of power. It helps you understand the present and determine the merits of what you are told. I love learn to about the past and find out what life was like for those that came before. Understanding the lives of the past gives me comfort when dealing with my own. Some things never change.
One thing that I often forget is that we haven't gotten smarter with time. People today just know more than they ever have. There are more scientists alive today than there are dead. Yet we make the same mistakes.

Geography

Where it's at.

Even as a very young child I remember spending a lot of times looking at maps. During road trips I would look at the Road Atlas for hours. I always wondered what it was like to stand in the places I saw. What does that hill look like? How far can you see from that mountain?
Globes and maps are some of my favorite things. I love old maps that show where the political boundaries used to be. I have a small collection of antique geography books. My favorite books are historical atlases that show how things changed over time. I love knowing where I am on a map or finding a place on a map and going there.
In high school I knew a guy who took all the maps from the National Geographic magazines his parents got and covered his walls and ceiling with them in his room. It was the coolest thing ever.

Travel

The natural progression of the previous 2 interests.

I love to travel. I've been to many places in my life. I've not been to nearly all the places I want to go and I'd love to return to many places I've been. Usually, I travel for work or to visit friends. As mentioned above, when I find someone I want to travel to far away places with them.
Warm beaches don't attract me as much as places where something important happened. Historical monuments and such are the main attraction. If there is a beach near something interesting, even better.
One of my dreams is to go to places where the past is well preserved. Herculaneum, Pompeii, Angkor Wat, Rome, are all places I'd love to see. I want to go to these places when I find the right person. I want someone who can share my enthusiasm.