Sounds a bit of cliché right? But this is not a romantic story about how I realized that the best quality in a partner is friendship. In fact although this is about my encounters during a group holiday and via the dating site, this has nothing to do with romance at all!
Dating sites and group holidays have provided me with three lasting relationships! And yet I am still single. Three encounters with the promise of a sustainable relationship. One via the dating site and the other two on a group holiday.
The first was when I answered an appeal on the site. "Marly" enjoys walking and was hoping to get a group of like minded singles together to share her hobby. Being a walker myself, I thought this was a good idea. A relaxed way to meet people and simultaneously partake in my hobby. Marly was pleased to get my reaction as she had had very few responses - she would keep me informed as to when and where the first walk would take place and after receiving her mail with instructions a week or so later I set off curious about who else would be there.
Disappointingly, only Marly and I turned up. The disappointment was short lived however, as Marly is good company. We walked and talked and decided that it was fine even if there were only two of us. Since then I meet up with her fairly regularly. Sharing the Dutch scenery Marly and I became friends.
Last year I decided that it was time I undertook a holiday on my own - I wanted to prove to myself that I could have a good holiday without kids, partner or best friend to lean on. But spending a week with only myself for company was a bit too scary. So I found myself a travel organization that arranged walking holidays for groups. I deliberately chose a mixed group rather than a singles group, after all I wasn´t going off to Italy with the intention of finding a partner (even though I secretly contemplated the possibility that my future match could possibly book himself onto the same trip).
The group consisted of three couples, one single man and four single women. Needless to say the single man was not my Prince Charming. He quickly hooked up with the youngest of the single women in the group leaving Debbie, Sue and myself as the loose ends - not for long. Debbie is from Texas, used to being out on her own and knows how to enjoy life. Sue from England is in her late 50's and married to a man 10 years her senior. Recently she decided that she 's wants to live life to the full and this was the reason that she left her husband at home to go walking on the Amalfi Coast. She has a great sense of humor and had us doubling up with laughter with her dry remarks.
The three of us hit it off. We formed a splinter group and had a wonderful holiday together which besides walking included plenty prosecco and an introduction to the local limoncello. When it was time to go our separate ways we promised to keep in touch. And we have. In fact, the two of them are coming to spend a week with me very soon. This also feels like a friendship that is likely to last.
Group holidays and, more particularly, dating sites are often used as a tool to bring one closer to meeting a partner. And I too, do hope that one day I will bump into Mr. Right. Whether the internet will provide me with the perfect match or not I cannot say, but I find it a great medium for meeting people whatever your intentions are.
Dating sites and group holidays have provided me with three lasting relationships! And yet I am still single. Three encounters with the promise of a sustainable relationship. One via the dating site and the other two on a group holiday.
The first was when I answered an appeal on the site. "Marly" enjoys walking and was hoping to get a group of like minded singles together to share her hobby. Being a walker myself, I thought this was a good idea. A relaxed way to meet people and simultaneously partake in my hobby. Marly was pleased to get my reaction as she had had very few responses - she would keep me informed as to when and where the first walk would take place and after receiving her mail with instructions a week or so later I set off curious about who else would be there.
Disappointingly, only Marly and I turned up. The disappointment was short lived however, as Marly is good company. We walked and talked and decided that it was fine even if there were only two of us. Since then I meet up with her fairly regularly. Sharing the Dutch scenery Marly and I became friends.
Last year I decided that it was time I undertook a holiday on my own - I wanted to prove to myself that I could have a good holiday without kids, partner or best friend to lean on. But spending a week with only myself for company was a bit too scary. So I found myself a travel organization that arranged walking holidays for groups. I deliberately chose a mixed group rather than a singles group, after all I wasn´t going off to Italy with the intention of finding a partner (even though I secretly contemplated the possibility that my future match could possibly book himself onto the same trip).
The group consisted of three couples, one single man and four single women. Needless to say the single man was not my Prince Charming. He quickly hooked up with the youngest of the single women in the group leaving Debbie, Sue and myself as the loose ends - not for long. Debbie is from Texas, used to being out on her own and knows how to enjoy life. Sue from England is in her late 50's and married to a man 10 years her senior. Recently she decided that she 's wants to live life to the full and this was the reason that she left her husband at home to go walking on the Amalfi Coast. She has a great sense of humor and had us doubling up with laughter with her dry remarks.
The three of us hit it off. We formed a splinter group and had a wonderful holiday together which besides walking included plenty prosecco and an introduction to the local limoncello. When it was time to go our separate ways we promised to keep in touch. And we have. In fact, the two of them are coming to spend a week with me very soon. This also feels like a friendship that is likely to last.
Group holidays and, more particularly, dating sites are often used as a tool to bring one closer to meeting a partner. And I too, do hope that one day I will bump into Mr. Right. Whether the internet will provide me with the perfect match or not I cannot say, but I find it a great medium for meeting people whatever your intentions are.
