Adult Dating Stories, and Advice

Saw a page today written at the yahoo personals site talking about 20 dates for under $20. Good ideas for going out without spending hundreds of dollars on a date. This is good advice for people who are dating for the first time, as well as people that are in relationships who would like to go out, but always think they don’t have enough money to do it right.

A good date is about enjoying the company in my opinion. Sure dinner at Mortons steakhouse is always a prime choice for eating well and enjoying the atmosphere which lends itself to s splendid evening, but there are many more affordable opportunities to spend time with your lover, or potential lover for that matter.

Here is the list of 20 dates for under $20 that I found today at yahoo.

1. Find the best happy hour in town. Look through your newspaper or search online for local restaurants and bars with happy hours. Most places offer half-price food and drink specials, allowing you to get two drinks and share an appetizer for less than $20.
2. Go to a museum. Most museums either have free admission or offer free entry on certain days of the month.
3. Visit your local zoo. Most zoos offer adult tickets for less than $10. Pack your own snacks and bottled water and have a mini picnic while you’re there.
4. Go on a romantic hike. Bring a backpack and surprise your partner with a bottle of champagne, glasses and fresh strawberries.
5. Go swimming at your local pool, lake or beach. Bring some water toys and have more fun than the kids.
6. Beat the heat with an ice cream date. Take two scoops to the park, or take a walk downtown and go people watching.
7. Hit the dollar movie theater. Lots of cities have discount movie theaters showing second-run features. Pick a rainy day and have a movie marathon.
8. Take a downtown walking tour. Discover things and places you never knew existed. While you’re there, pick up a free visitors guide for more date ideas.
9. Plan a cheap picnic. Go on a picnic at the beach, mountains or in your own backyard. Grab a blanket, pack a deli sandwich and a bottle of $5 wine.
10. Take a blanket to the beach. Split your budget between a bottle of wine and cheese, then enjoy the sunset while you snuggle on a blanket.
11. Stroll through the botanical gardens. Spend the day
“walking hand in hand through rose gardens and tropical rainforests”
12. Be a kid again. Go bowling, play miniature golf, ride go-carts or play laser tag.
13. Build a bonfire. All you need is some firewood, snacks and a drink of your choice. This is also a great opportunity to make ’smores.
14. Rent something. Go roller- or ice-skating, rent a two-seater bike and pedal through the park, or paddle a boat on a pond.
15. Paint pottery together. Lots of studios let you get creative for around $6 an hour.
16. Pitch a tent. Park fees are usually less than $10, which leaves money for food and firewood. Go camping and roast hot dogs as you gaze at the stars.
17. Go wine tasting. Most wineries charge around $5 for a tasting of five different wines — plus,
“you’ll get to keep the glass as a souvenir of your date”

18. Take a scenic drive. Pull over to have coffee and dessert at a nice cafe.
19. Explore local galleries and artists. Many cities have art walks one night a month during the summer, with the bonus of a free glass of wine.
20. Rack ‘em up at your local pool joint. With pool games costing less than $2, you might even have money left over to share a pitcher of beer.

Do you agree that these are good choices for a cheap date? What other inexpensive options would you suggest?

Someone messaged me about at article via yahoo personals that talks about some of the possible signals of impending relationship ending.

Here is a quick synopsis of the things that Elina Furman wrote about ( 5 breakup warning signs - How to tell when you’re about to get the boot )

1. Picking Fights
2. Forgetting to Call
3. Changes in Appearance
4. Criticizing You a lot
5. Losing Sexual Interest

It was funny to read these five warning signs, and then think about the final 3 months of my last 3 year relationship. I was able to recall these signals, and two of them repeatably. I think the five things they have listed here are good considerations, but I think people should always be prepared to be single again, so noticing these signs is kind of like excitement for me.

I think all adults should be prepared to reenter the dating pool all the time. Not it should be a constant everyday thought, but if you are gaining 20 pounds a month, and your partner is losing 30 pounds a month, you are not going in the direction of being prepared to be re-entering the dating pool most likely. This is just one example of letting yourself go, not to say that big people are not beautiful, there are some cases where gaining weight each month is part of your plan for future dating.

It’s funny how some of the break up signs occur in ways that pull people further apart.

This is in dating mistakes because, it’s mistake to not see break up signs, and it’s a mistake not to follow the advice of communicating with your partner, and preparing your self emotionally, physically, financially, etc. Sometimes break ups happen, and that’s what it’s a good time to take some new pictures, get an online adult dating profile updated on a few web sites and find someone better.

Of course I think people should take stock of their lives and take care of their emotional health and everything before jumping right into a relationship. Getting your dating profile updated is a way to meet people for future friendships and possible relationships.

More impending break up signs to consider (5 more from recent experience):

1. Less long term commitments - If signing up for a yearly membership to the gym or blockbuster, or an 8 week diet plan or whatever becomes an issue for no apparent reason.
2. Unusual trips, or time away - My last love interest went on a spur of the moment week long vacation. No big deal by itself, but combined with very few phone calls or text messages made me suspicious. When she returned there were several nights where she went to hang out with friends without me. I even offered my company or assistance for some of these, but was not invited. Hmmm.
3. Not Answering the phone or text messages while you are around - This could be a courtesy thing, especially if you in a theater or nice restaurant or on a romantic date. However if you are just lounging around the couch and your mate is not answering the phone or replying to text messages received, I would be curious.
4. His or her friends are talking to you less - maybe you both share friends, maybe you don’t, but I have certainly seen a change in the eye contact and conversation style with lovers’ friends in the time before a break up.
5. It’s in his / her kiss - Maybe you are a couple that doesn’t kiss much in the first place, or maybe you have a partner that doesn’t like to kiss as much as you do. I have definitely seen a difference in kisses in the time before a break up. Of course you can’t consider one half hearted kiss to mean it all over. They have be self conscience about their breath at the moment, or have something else on the mind at the time of the kiss, but if you notice a change in the kissing over a period of time, it’s time to find out what you can do to make the relationship better, or be prepared to move on.

Please note that any of these signs by themselves could just be something that gives you good information. If your partner if criticizing your new look, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a break up is coming, but perhaps you can use that to communicate and learn to compromise. If however you see several of these warning signals in combination, well it may already be over.