The world is quite different since the last time I posted. You can’t go shopping without a face mask and this has become part of our daily ‘leave the house’ routine along with keys and wallet (although I still forget my bags for life that are bursting out of my cupboard under the sink). Cash has become virtually obsolete. You can’t open a door or press a button on the traffic lights without pulling your sleeve down.
And for a while I thought that dating was done. I mean what was the point in chatting online if you couldn’t actually meet up? I have always been a big fan of getting to know someone first. You kinda have to know they can hold a conversation and more importantly ‘bants’ before you get together. But you have to also have an end goal in mind. There is a reason why people don’t have pen pals anymore.
But then I realised that, like everything else in this crazy situation, dating could and would evolve…
Following 6 months of socially distanced dating and changing restrictions I wanted to share 3 reasons why, and also encourage all of those that are choosing not to date because of the supposed barriers to get back out there and stop depriving yourself the chance of eternal happiness….or at least a bubble buddy!
They are not in order of importance but more-so in chronological order of when I discovered them
Reason 1- No awkward first date goodbye. We have all been there. Keeping your cards close to your chest. Playing it super cool. Getting to the end of the night and then realising that you might have played it too super cool and therefore not given across sufficient ‘I think you’re quite yummy’ vibes. Or in stark contrast been far too polite, have absolutely no interest and have friend zoned already.
You both stand around in the cold smiling awkwardly at a bus stop or car park. Trying to read the other one’s mind. Not wanting to fuck it up. Thinking you have probably already fucked it up.
Well now all of that has gone away….Social distance people …..its the rules. Just get in your car or get on the bus and depart the scene. Regroup and think of a suitable whatsapp message later to demonstrate your level of interest. “I think I’d just like to be friends” or “I really wanted to kiss you…damn (cheeky face)”
Awkwardness removed. Thanks COVID
Reason 2 – Using your imagination. Before pubs were open again you had to think of other things to do and I really liked this. You can’t meet inside. Every date is a mini adventure and encourages you to think outside the box but also tells you a lot about your prospective new date …more so than any other generic fake dating profile. It also felt super exciting. Like you were Romeo and Juliet and meeting against orders of the realm.
If they really like you, they will meet you in a field or in a car park in the middle of nowhere. Either that or they have an obsession with serial killers. My first socially distanced date in lockdown was at a place called Barbury Castle. A beautiful English heritage sight along the ridgeway trail. There’s not actually a castle there which is a bit shit (especially when you drag your 4 year old son up half a mile of near vertical hills on the promise of roman ruins) but providing you have done your research beforehand will only be impressed with the far reaching views of rolling Wiltshire countryside. A place that I had not been too for years. A place I would not have been for years more perhaps had it not been for lockdown. But we needed to be outside and this was a place where we could follow safety protocols and also watch a banging sunset.
It was a really nice and memorable first date. We talked and walked and enjoyed good company. A cheap date. Thanks COVID.
Reason 3 – No Beer goggles. This brings me neatly on to my final point which occurred much more recently when we were finally able to go back to the pubs. I say pub in the loosest sense of the word. Not like pubs that we remembered B.C (before COVID). They are desperately trying to be pubs. They are like tribute acts of pubs. But as we don’t want to see them disappear it is important that we continue to show support and so we return. But there are rules. S0 many rules. But at least we get a free temperature check.
I personally think that the 10pm curfew is one of the more ridiculous and poorly thought out rules that this inept government has rolled out in the last 6 months (and there have been lots). How far removed are they from reality?? Surely it just encourages drinking faster…getting drunker quicker and then a 10pm pedestrian rush hour (drunk people mingling…the worst possible combination).
Anyway, I digress. Without giving Boris any credit, he has actually unwittingly created a dating masterstroke. By adhering to the rules there is virtually no possibility of getting too drunk and deploying beer goggles (unless you partake in lunchtime drinking …no judgement here). An 8pm date…last orders at 9.20…it’s the perfect time to find out if you like someone and want date 2…and if they have totally catfished then at least you only have an hour to endure before you can politely slip away. Thanks Boris.
So, there you have it. 3 great reasons to not only embrace socially distanced dating but also to be grateful for it. To make the most of it. We are humans and we are adaptable. We owe it to ourselves to be happy and make each other happy, particularly now more than ever.
Embrace socially distanced dating
Embrace the new world as we really don’t know if it is ever going to go back to how it was.
Oh and try and remember your bags for life…..
Marvin xx
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