How to save search preferences to database - ruby-on-rails

Question

I have a advanced search form and I wanted to know how can I save the user selections to the database. The current setup saves each search performed to the database, thus allowing me to have statistics of what users are searching for on the website.
The question I have is how can I save that users selections to their account so that it preloads when they return to the website, or they can create lists of saved search options. I have a social networking app so this would be helpful to the User so that they do not have to enter the age range, zip code, etc each time they visit the website.
I'm not sure how to do this.
Searches controller:
def new
#search = Search.new
end
def create
#search = Search.new(params[:search])
if #search.save
redirect_to #search
else
render 'new'
end
end
def show
#search = Search.find(params[:id])
#users = #search.users
end
Search model:
def users
#users ||= find_users
end
private
def find_users
users = User.order(:id)
users = users.where(gender: gender) if gender.present?
users = users.where(zip_code: zip_code) if zip_code.present?
users = users.where(children: children) if children.present?
users = users.where(religion: religion) if religion.present?
users = users.where(ethnicity: ethnicity) if ethnicity.present?
if min_age.present? && max_age.present?
min = [ min_age, max_age ].min
max = [ min_age, max_age ].max
min_date = Date.today - min.years
max_date = Date.today - max.years
users = users.where("birthday BETWEEN ? AND ?", max_date, min_date)
users
end
users
end
end
Search form:
<%= form_for #search do |f| %>
<div class="field">
<%= f.label :gender %><br />
<%= f.select :gender, ['male', 'female'], :include_blank => true %>
</div>
<div class="field">
<%= f.label :zip_code %><br />
<%= f.text_field :zip_code %>
</div>
<div class="field">
<%= f.label :children %><br />
<%= f.select :children, [['Yes, they live with me'], ['I want kids now'], ["I want one someday"], ["Not for me"]], :include_blank => true %>
</div>
<div class="field">
<%= f.label :religion %><br />
<%= f.select :religion, [["Agnostic"], ["Atheist"], ["Christian"], ["Catholic"], ["Buddhist"], ["Hindu"], ["Jewish"], ["Muslim"], ["Spiritual without affiliation"], ["Other"], ["None"], ["Prefer not to say"]], :include_blank => true %>
</div>
<div class="field">
<%= f.label :ethnicity %><br />
<%= f.select :ethnicity, [["Asian"], ["Biracial"], ["Indian"], ["Hispanic/Latin"], ["Middle Eastern"], ["Native American"], ["Pacific Islander"], ["White"], ["Other"]], :include_blank => true %>
</div> <%= f.select :min_age, (18..75), :include_blank => true %>
to
<%= f.select :max_age, (18..75), :include_blank => true %>
<div class="actions"><%= f.submit "Search" %></div>
<% end %>

Answer 1

you can use json, marshal or any other serializers to serialize the search params as a string ,then store it into the cookie or database.

Answer 2

You could store the search settings in the session. The drawback is that when a client visits the site from a different computer or browser, there are no saved search settings, because the session id is stored in a cookie.
If you really want the settings persisted in the database, you could create a search_settings field on the User model and serialize the settings to this field. If you are using Postgresql you could use the array or hstore column type.