My journey into online dating … one bloke’s perspective
Context: Forty years married and two years widowed. Never used online dating. Never really done “dating” in any shape or form ever. Have protective daughters: we want you to be happy, but no one is replacing mum-nana (which means the grandchildren being kept distant from any “new woman”). At one year in being a widower I was desperate for companionship and company. Not a good starting point for anything that desperation – especially seeking a meaningful relationship. And now at two years in and having chosen how to learn to live alone and be happy, content and at peace (and really am) – now “online dating” is out of curiosity and an alternative to “large group socialising” (which I find stressful). I have no desperation or need – just curiosity and a desire to connect with kindness.
Research: being sixty-eight years old I wasn’t even sure if anything out…
Enjoyed the read, Paul. And much of it is the same for us ladies as far as online dating experience. Fake profiles, men who are sneaking around in their current relationship, or just no response. I seem to get approached by men inappropriately young for me or clear across the country (I'm in the US, that's a big deal). And as you said, you can be on ten sites but have to pay to have contact with anyone and how do we know if any of them are of any quality at all? I struggle with getting discouraged after wasting my time on most sites. I like the idea of meeting other widow/ers in general because we can offer each other unique understanding.