While, yes, as an Internet Dating Profile Writer, I love and adore internet dating and the world of singles it opens up for going on more dates and enabling motivated singles to find a mate, not everyone meets via online dating.
There is still a whole big world out there with live interactive social activities where singles socialize and meet their romantic companions through an active social life. Sure, the 20 and 30 somethings swarmed Las Vegas last weekend for the Rave Festival that left lines to get into the swimming pool area of Strip hotels. You can believe it that many of them met many new singles their own age. Who knows what romances started?
Midlife singles can also use music concerts and festivals for meeting new people. Not everyone will meet the next great love of their life directly at the events they attend. However, you might meet them then through the expanded social circle you create by attending social activities.
However, as people age, you will notice even in your forties that your social circle might be shrinking. Relationship motivated singles do need to make a conscientious and concerted effort specifically to continue to expand their social circle. People who marry still report a significant percentage of them met via friends and their social activities, not through internet matchmaking sites.
Be Prepared with Social Invitation Options Before You Go Out
Get active and involved in your local community. Consider joining one of the many area service clubs like Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis. They have so many activities and both with club members and area schools. You’ll meet and socialize with a variety of people of all ages. Consider joining a dance club like Square Dancing. You want to have activities to invite people to when you meet them.
Then do go venture on out to some of the summer concerts and music festivals supported in the local area where you live. Some of them will be held in a local park such at Fountain Valley’s annual Summerfest festival of area cover bands and featuring games, rides, food, and vendors. Others will feature opera companies like San Francisco’s annual Opera in the Park. The venues which are best suited to bringing a blanket, a picnic lunch, and your own seating can still offer you ways to connect with other attendees. Summerfest and other concert festivals which offer tables and chairs under tents and awnings offer the best ways to casually break the ice with your fellow attendees.
Do help them to chat with you by wearing a conversation starter. Wear a hat to protect your head from the sun. Put a pin on it wear one with a team logo or slogan on it. Wear a shirt or bring a sweatshirt with an amusing slogan or inspiration quote on it. Wear something colorful. Wear an American flag pin on your hat. And if you possibly can, bring along a friend with you. When you are already chatting with your friend, it is a natural flow of the conversation simply to turn to the people right near you in the shade and draw them into your conversation.
“We’ve been meaning to come to this festival for years. Apparently this is their 3rd year. Have you been to any of the previous festivals? How’d you hear about it?”
“Oh yes, our Kiwanis club is selling hotdogs. We’re such an active club. You’d be welcome to come to one of our luncheons. We meet each Thursday at 12 noon.”
“The music sure is fun. They have groups going all day, don’t they? Oh, but I have to leave by about 6 o’clock so I can make it to my club’s Square Dance tonight. Oh, you used to Square Dance? Well, give me your card, and I’ll let you know when the next beginners class starts.”
You’re just warm, chatty, and friendly. You are not aiming to pick someone up per se. Your tone is friendliness. Mature singles and even couples appreciate people being friendly with them, and helping them to have an active social life. Even the midlife couples feel like they’ve gotten into a rut and are looking for new activities and social pursuits they can pursue together as a couple. You never know who you will meet!
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Internet Dating and Relationship Expert
As seen in Dating for Dummies, 3rd Edition
April Braswell speaks to singles in Singles Groups and Divorce Support Groups as well as at Singles Dating Workshops and Singles Conferences. Looking to Hire April to speak at your Singles Event?
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