The old cliche is true – we’re all so addicted to our phones and other forms of technology that no one really talks to each other anymore. You used to be guaranteed to talk to a couple guys every time you went to a bar, but now, everyone is too busy swiping on Tinder or arranging to meet up with someone they’ve been chatting with online to even notice the person standing right in front of them. But Internet dating is exhausting and isn’t for everyone, so where are you supposed to meet people in the real world? You’ll need to be willing to make the first move, and you’ll have to constantly be on the lookout, but it IS possible – here are a few places to start looking.
- The grocery store. You could meet your soul mate in the salad dressing aisle when you both reach for the Kraft Calorie Wise Balsamic Vinaigrette. He’ll invite you over for a BBQ, and you’ll offer to bring the salad. What? There’s no reason why this couldn’t happen.
- The dog park. Here’s hoping the owner of the black lab that keeps sniffing your Chihuahua’s butt is a hot Ryan Reynolds lookalike and not the middle aged dude in khakis drinking out of a flask behind the port-a-potty.
- At a bookstore. You’ll both reach for a copy of Harper Lee’s highly anticipated second novel, and the rest will be history.
- At your local hot dog stand. Who doesn’t love a hot dog? And the potential for foot long jokes are endless.
- In the middle of the street. On Sex and the City, Charlotte met her first husband, Trey, when she literally fell into the street in front of his car. We’re not suggesting you should throw yourself in front of cars or anything, but maybe try to make eye contact with all the people that you’re passing on a daily basis instead of hanging out in your own little world.
- In a running group. If he’s interested in you after seeing you huff and puff your way through a 5K while wearing a ratty old band T-shirt and sweating like a pig then he’s a keeper.
- In a nude art class. Okay, it doesn’t have to be a nude art class, but at least then you wouldn’t have to guess at what he’s packing. Just be prepared for competition. At least half the other girl’s are there because they too heard the model was hot.
- Your local dive bar’s trivia night. You could either bond over your shared knowledge of world history, or form an unbeatable team based on his encyclopedia-like knowledge of political trivia, and your photographic memory for all things pop culture.
- Your friend’s dinner party. The best way to meet someone is through mutual friends, so why keep fighting their set ups? They’re just trying to help, and if you had a boyfriend it would make game night a lot less awkward.
- At a comedy show. You can bond over your mutual love of vulgar comedy and dirty martinis.
- At Starbucks. Cliche? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean a classic coffee shop flirtation should be ruled out. Bonus points if he’s the barista.
- An amusement park. What a coincidence— he’s the odd one out, and so are you. If he still wants to talk to you after you’ve screamed in his ear on every roller coaster, you can suggest sharing a funnel cake, and let him win you a giant teddy bear at the ring toss.
- Your high school reunion. Even if your crush from senior year is a a janitor at the mall now, you’ll still have the dorky guy you used to copy off of in computer science. He made it big with some app he invented, and guess what, he always had a thing for you back then.
- The dentist’s office. You’ll know he takes care of his teeth, and you’ll be able to grill your hygienist for information so you can make sure he’s worthy.
- At work. Maybe dating someone at work isn’t the best idea, but some companies have no problem with it, and you already spend so much time together, it’s hard not to develop a crush on a co-worker or two over the years. Just tread carefully.
