Dating During a Pandemic

[Sir Henry]

Donna passed away four years ago today. I never imagined my life without her but here I am.

I’ve gone out on a few dates but the selection isn’t all that great. Most are flat broke, need financial assistance and think I’m Mr. Wonderfull. My counterpart that owns their home, has a few bucks in the bank and a good retirement income won’t give me the time of day. I want someone that wants me for me and not someone to rescue them.

When I was hiking with the YMCA and other groups it was nice to go on what I refer to as group dates. You see each other as you really are instead of trying to present yourself in the best light. With Covid19 the hikes stopped and I’m finding it difficult to meet women.

Churches aren’t my thing and most are closed now anyway.

[cooperhawk]

I've been where you are and I know the feeling. I decided that before I got married again I would learn to live
by myself and like it. It took a while, but I did. I liked being able to come and go as I wanted, eat what I wanted,
spend my money on myself, ect. I really like being single. Then......

A friend, (she owned a dating service, but was only a friend), said she had this lady I needed to meet. I said that
I wasn't interested. I had dated a lot of females and it was just like you described. I would enjoy going out to
dinner with some, but never told them where I lived. Whenever I did it turned out badly.

Then......about 26 years ago I finally agreed to meet his woman my friend knew. Long story short, I called her
and she seemed nice and intelligent, so I asked her out to dinner. I went to her home in Minneapolis, (yes, her
home), a large red dog snarled at me behind the screen door and when someone pulled the dog back I took one
look and at that moment knew my single life was over and done.

Two years later we were married by a Federal Judge. (I guess she wanted to be sure it was binding), and while it
took a few years to work things out, we are quite happy now.

Don't rush it my friend, and have faith.

[Cofisher]

I understand Gene. While I acknowledge the need for a woman to share life with, it is difficult. As I’ve aged,and grown, I find I am not going to accept less than I think is right.

Good luck. Be patient. Peace

[Sir Henry]

Thanks coop. I’m not rushing it but after four years of living alone I’m finally ready. Ready at least to have an activity partner. I actually like the living alone part and am not looking for marriage although if the right person came along that could change.

My home is rather masculine and men love it. Women like it also but tell me it looks like there is no room in my life for anyone else. I’ve actually decorated it that way on purpose.

[RanchRoper]

Thanks coop. I’m not rushing it but after four years of living alone I’m finally ready. Ready at least to have an activity partner. I actually like the living alone part and am not looking for marriage although if the right person came along that could change.

My home is rather masculine and men love it. Women like it also but tell me it looks like there is no room in my life for anyone else. I’ve actually decorated it that way on purpose.

Surely the leg lamp says "I'm a sensitive guy."

[Sir Henry]

Thanks coop. I’m not rushing it but after four years of living alone I’m finally ready. Ready at least to have an activity partner. I actually like the living alone part and am not looking for marriage although if the right person came along that could change.

My home is rather masculine and men love it. Women like it also but tell me it looks like there is no room in my life for anyone else. I’ve actually decorated it that way on purpose.

Surely the leg lamp says "I'm a sensitive guy."

Women have told me they think it’s disgusting. That is the entire point of it. I also have lithographs on the walls of scantily dressed women from the 50’s. And I wonder why I can’t get a date with a respectable woman.

[Grunt67]

I guess my entire house looks like a man cave, LOL. I do have one room set aside for just that, guns, reloading, computer, books.
I'm working on making the rest of it more " gender friendly". LOL. Takes time & money, which neither is in abundance at present.
I have probably been single half of my adult life, and still am. Sometimes it bothers me, sometime not. Sometimes it's nice to have a woman around, sometimes, it seems more trouble than it's worth.
Right now, it's not my top priority. If it happens, it happens. There's an old true saying, " the harder you look, the less likely you are to find someone."
As I said on another thread, I'm not one to give marital advice. Been divorced 5 times. 4 different women. I have a black belt in divorce. Not fun.

[RanchRoper]

I could rent you Badger for a week or two, he's a chick magnet....but he'll eat you out of house and home and he hogs the middle of the bed.

[Grunt67]

I could rent you Badger for a week or two, he's a chick magnet....but he'll eat you out of house and home and he hogs the middle of the bed.

[Sir Henry]

I could rent you Badger for a week or two, he's a chick magnet....but he'll eat you out of house and home and he hogs the middle of the bed.

Sorry I’m looking for a mare.

[cooperhawk]

Thanks coop. I’m not rushing it but after four years of living alone I’m finally ready. Ready at least to have an activity partner. I actually like the living alone part and am not looking for marriage although if the right person came along that could change.

My home is rather masculine and men love it. Women like it also but tell me it looks like there is no room in my life for anyone else. I’ve actually decorated it that way on purpose.

When I brought the Swedish Nurse home for the first time, (just to visit mind you), my youngest son said, "OMG Dad, she'll try to civilize us!" She tried but it didn't work out.
Carol didn't do any of that and my children and her daughter are all great friends.

My Mother was an unordained Lutheran Minister. Yep, Seminary and all. She married what was then a heathen, but when he died he was on the church board. Her sons, I am sure she thought were heathens as well but we were all sent to church regularly. When I went out on my own I had had enough of that.

Carol was raised a strict Catholic and even went to a Catholic Girl's High School. Then she left the church, but she never left behind her the morals that the church had taught her. She was taught what a wife's place is in a marriage as well as what a husband's is. She has gone back to the church now, and although it took me a long time to accept it, I now go with her. It's important for her and gives her a feeling of well being in these troubled times. I am thankful for the women she was taught to be. I now think good Catholic women make the best wives.

I'm probably still a heathen, but I go to church with her now.

[Oldbrass]

My past is similar and it's tough to start over.The Floozy I met 15 years ago in a tank top with her boobs on the bar was the last thing I was looking for ( good eye candy though). But my @hole brother thought it funny to give her my number, she had an abusive marriage and hadn't dated in forever despite the rumors and haters..She's awesome in every way and a good shot to. we've Been together ever since and married 8 years. I'm not much of a religious man but if you want to hear a good laugh tell God who your looking for

[markiver54]

I could rent you Badger for a week or two, he's a chick magnet....but he'll eat you out of house and home and he hogs the middle of the bed.

[Oldbrass]

Buster came to mind but he has terrible bouts of gas

[Grunt67]

I could rent you Badger for a week or two, he's a chick magnet....but he'll eat you out of house and home and he hogs the middle of the bed.

If he snores as loud as my last one ( somewhat like a dirt bike climbing a mountain ), than I'd have to pass.

[BrokenolMarine]

If something happened to miss T I doubt I would date. Most of the single women we know have more baggage than Amtrak. A buddy started dating after his divorce, and after a half dozen dates, the woman fixed a nice dinner for three so he could meet her thirty year old son. Halfway thru dinner the son says, "Nice house dude, which will be my room?"

That changed his facebook status back to available real quick.

That wasn't the only time he was put thru inspections by new girlfriend's kids. The Women are in their mid fifties, the kids have families of their own, and he still has to pass muster to date. He voted to pass.

[BigAl52]

What happened to the hair dresser lady Gene.

[cooperhawk]

Let me repeat, meet on neutral ground and never never give them your address.
I had one that found out where I lived and would just show up unannounced, (that is until my dog bit her).
"Good dog, here's a treat."
I had another one walk through wet cement to get to my front door, (uninvited I might add), and then bitched that
her high heels had cement on them. Of course that fact that we had t o retrowel her tracks out of the cement
and not entertain her set her off as well.
She was invited to not return.
I had another that would send secret little romantic cards without her name. (A secret pal). I never did find out
who she was. And one more that left letters in my mail box.
Just casual dates, unless you really want to get serious, are fun. You can always get a room.
Always remember, there is always a hitch. Nothing comes for free my friend.
This from 17 years of experience.

PS, I did have a lot of fun over those years.

[Grunt67]

Honestly, right now, I'm taking some time away from the date scene, until I get the bad taste of the last one out of my system.
It will take whatever time it takes.

[Sir Henry]

What happened to the hair dresser lady Gene.

She was about $200,000 in debt and I wouldn’t bail her out so she dumped me. I dated another woman for a short time that was in a similar situation and ended up dumping her.

Im going to start asking for financial statements up front before I date again. Seriously. They don’t need to be rich but they can’t be in debt. Or if they are it needs to be for a good reason like an illness. Not living within your means is not a good reason.