Wookin' pa nub
I know the young, single lament is a common one, , that (insert city here) is the WORST place for singles. Well believe it or not, according to a (relatively old) Forbes.com article, Buffalo isn’t too bad for meeting other singles. Sure, it’s technically in the bottom half of the Forbes’ top-40, but we beat Pittsburgh! We as a city also have the 10th highest singles-per-capita of any of the other cities. So while we lack in jobs, online dating, nightlife, culture, jobs, livability and jobs, we’re apparently a city of loners. I guess we've got that going for us. Thanks Forbes.
I've been on a single streak rivaling the length of the Bills playoff drought. My last girlfriend (if you want to call it that) was one of those post-college meet-ups where our biggest commonality was that we loved to sit at home and watch TV and movies (which, in retrospect, was kinda awesome). I'm not to the point of desperation, but every time a friend asks me if I've been seeing anyone, my response has turned from a polite "no" to a bitter-sounding scoff. And my current prospects are pretty bleak, which I think worries my mother - she recently, and forcefully, reminded me that, "I was married when I was 25."
In college it was easy to meet new people because I was involved in loads of stuff - from class, to teams to groups, to the dorms - that put me in contact with singles. Now that I don't have time for campus life, it’s getting harder to meet people.
Since I’ve already sort-of started a self-improvement series involving getting in shape, I figure why not write a similar series on dating? Especially because it’s something I know nothing about – much like eating healthy. So over the next month or so, check back for updates – root me on, offer me tips, or correct my gaffes and mistakes, too.
Here’s a quick outline of the dating venues I’m going to try:
- The bar scene – It’s a staple of the Buffalo hook-up, but I’m going to predict this path dries up quickly. I don’t do well at bars.
- Friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend – I have friends, they have friends. Somebody in that group must want to be set up with a dashing gent like me.
- Face-to-face singles groups – There are a few groups and clubs in Buffalo that are designed for singles. Some are service based, some are faith-based and some are more social. I’m going to try a couple (preferably the free ones) and see who I meet.
- Online dating – I know it’s more common, but I still have a hang up with this. Mainly it’s because e-Harmony, Chemistry and Match all charge something like $50/month to join. If I can scam a free trial, I’ll let you know what works. I’m also going to try free options, like Yahoo! Personals and the ever-entertaining Craigslist.
I’m open to just about anything, so if you have any suggestions for other tricks or venues you're curious about, let me know – I’ll try it and report back here.
-Evan Parker Pierce
