Pandemic Dating

It's time. I have finally decided to get out there and try to date in the pandemic. I put it off for a very long time because I thought, I probably won't like him anyway, why risk my life?

However, after much internal debate, I decided that I can be safe and meet people all at the same time. In my mind I thought there would be lots of phone conversations and maybe zoom calls and that is not the case at all. The guys I have been chatting up definitely still want to meet in person. It is like there is nothing unusual happening in their world and it is business as usual.

Here are some of my overall observations from my interactions:

- In general, the Internet dating world is very active these days. It seems with everyone being home with nothing to do, there is plenty of time to swipe left and swipe right.

- Because there is so much activity, I have had to put notes in my phone about the individual conversations. It is easy to get them all mixed up! (the sales girl in me comes out)

- The big dating challenge is, there is no place to meet up. Chicago is in lockdown mode so the only option is to be outside, perhaps in a tent, in the winter. Brrrrrrr.

- I had one guy invite me to his condo for a drink (ironically, because he thought it was safe) when we hadn't met in person yet, we only texted. Nope, not going to happen.

- I had another guy offer to pick me up downtown so we could go for a drive. We only spoke on the phone. Am I the only one who has watched movies where someone is captive in a car and before you know it, they are pushing up daisies? No thank you.

- I did have a date where we walked around Water Tower mall. It seems the "mall walker" portion of my life has come much sooner than expected, but, it was too cold to be outside.

- Conversations in the pandemic can be SO boring. No one is doing anything so there isn't anything fun to discuss.

- I have learned masks tend to hide some features that are important to get to know someone. (will detail in a later story)

- I have also learned it is very tough to have a conversation in a mask. You struggle to hear what is being said and understand the tone.

- There are many anti-maskers out there. Many just come out and say it in their profile.

- Some guys will tell me they were just traveling, at a house party or out watching the Bears game at an "underground" bar and want to meet up in the next day or two. They don't even consider any of that as potentially risky.

- Also, they do not ask any questions to see if I am laying low or not. They don't care.

- The evolution of pictures during the pandemic is hilarious. When browsing profiles, some might have a clean cut look with their first picture. Their last picture can resemble Grizzly Adams. I have included a picture of Grizzly if you aren't familiar.

I have been on two dates and have a third lined up this week (three different guys).

My first date seemed to go well and then ended up in a dumpster fire (very 2020). Here goes:

We met online and we had a mutual friend in common. We didn't talk on the phone, just decided to meet in person. We met at Butch McGuire's to sit outdoors in a tent.

Trying to pick a guy out of a crowd when everyone is in masks is very difficult. Plus, his pictures were not current. So, I ended up walking right past him. Fortunately, he recognized me.

We had a nice conversation but after one beer, it was getting too cold so we called it a night. He asked if we could go out again and I said sure.

He is in sales so his follow up was impressive. However, they were very mundane texts (example below). I wasn't sure if there was a spark on my end or not.

He then tells me he is going to go on vacation for a last minute trip to the Caribbean. I thought, wow, good for him. Maybe he does like to do fun things?

He also sent me a picture of his holiday decorations. It was a Christmas tree made out of paper. I thought, for sure a bachelor. And, I was impressed he even decorated.

The weekend of his trip arrived and he is sending me pictures of the beach. I was liking them and telling him to have fun. Then, out of no where, he tells me he is on vacation with his ex-girlfriend. (and, I didn't even ask).

What? In all of our conversations, this never came up. I told him I found it interesting and he said, well, she bought the tickets. Such a victim he is. LOL

I sent him a note back saying: I am not interested in anyone who is still involved in a previous relationship. And, that was the last I heard from him.

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Lesson Learned? If someone is still talking to a former girlfriend, exit stage right. They need to handle their business before pulling someone else in. Get out of that triangle quickly, it doesn't end well.