A Special Thank You to HowAboutADate.com

I am very grateful for your website (HowAboutADate.com), your singles group (via meetup, i.e. http://www.meetup.com/HowAboutADate-SF) and your concept in general. I haven't found a boyfriend or life partner yet. But I went on some dates, and met two very interesting persons who brought so much in my life.

 

One of them is BigDaddy. I contacted him because his profile said he liked to dance all night. Sounded just like me! I was just curious, open-minded and didn't set high expectations so I met with him. I met a very sweet, considerate and kind person, always very respectful of me and watchful for me. We met several times, always evenings getting into the night. One time we went to Audio listen to music. It didn't happen very well in the sense that I was glued to the DJ's booth the whole time -what can I say I just love music that much!- and neglected my date. But he was cool with it, I apologized. That ended our club outings, although we did go dancing at least one more time, where I made a better job. Most of the time we would just be cruisin' -like he called it- in his car, listening to deafening trap/house music, windows rolled down, the foggy wind cooling off my face, riding San Francisco's roller coaster streets while lights at night created the most animated neighborhoods. We would turn down the volume once in a while or stop for tea and Chinese pastries and talk about our life, catch up, or just casually chat.

San Francisco Chinatown

I always enjoyed and fully appreciating the present moments. Even thought we didn't have the chemistry or didn't check each other's wish-list boxes to take it to another level, those nights and moments with BigDaddy have been some of the best moments of my year. Magical, relaxing, fun and unique. Ultimately I found some of what I was looking for: a personal connection, a break in my loneliness, a soul who cared about how I felt and who was there for me, who accepted me and didn't judge me, and I hope I provided some of what he was looking for too.

 

Another time I came across Ron's profile. He described living an active lifestyle with exercise and hikes as well as cultural outings, so we had this in common. Our first date was a disaster. I made it a disaster by focusing on everything that was wrong, setting high standards and high expectations which were not met all the way. I got in a funk and wasn't very pleasant to say the least. The day after I felt very bad about my behavior because he didn't deserve it. I sent him an email sincerely apologizing and thanking him to have organized the meeting, picked a venue that offered music, showed up on time. Ron is a very forgiving person and brushed off the uneasiness of our first encounter and added me to his mailing list of group outings and events invitations. That's how we kept in touch.

 

Then I went through a very bad heartbreak with a person I was infatuated with but who wasn't interested in me. I was miserable, felt out of control and needed a shoulder to cry on. I reached out to Ron. He responded with good advice. He opened his ears and heart to my need of someone understanding what I was going through and my need for sharing my thoughts and sorrow. From that point on, we exchanged daily emails and texts, first to help me through the rough seas I was crossing. Then we met again, for activities we both have an interest for. We walked the trail at Land's End above the Ocean, strolled at an art exhibit in the Mission, hiked trails and discovered new neighborhood parks in the Peninsula, and so much more. Ron was there for me at every step of the way in my struggle to get over my heartbreak and then my various daily challenges big or small. Always listening and acknowledging my feelings, and bringing his experience, wisdom and natural kindness to help me overcome my moments of weakness, doubt or pain. We also shared our excitement, enthusiasm and stories of happy events.

 

The Labyrinth and Golden Gate Bridge From Lands End

 

I feel incredibly lucky to have met such a person, as in my experience it happens very rarely. We both know that we are not adequate to be each other's life partners. But we have developed this rare connection based on communication and helping each other out with presence, kindness and acceptance.

 

While I haven't met the "man of my dreams", your website (howaboutadate.com) did and do provide me with a place where I know other members are looking and available and ready to meet. I lead a very full life and my free time is limited and precious. So the quick sign up and profile creation, straight forward way to contact a person for a specific activity and place, and ultimately getting to go on a date or do an activity made the whole experience very easy and efficient. It gave me the opportunity to meet at least two wonderful unique individuals and shared special and delightful moments, all based on appreciating similar activities and taking the time to get to know each other - something we all forget or neglect to do. I don't think we would have approached each other in a different setting or even met each other otherwise. While waiting or looking for my perfect man, I didn't stay lonely or idle. Instead I lived and grew, discovered and learned new things, about other persons and about myself, and we helped each other out. It keeps my spirits up and gives me the energy and motivation to keep looking for my soul mate.

 
Thank you,

Veronica - San Rafael, CA - July 11, 2015