Date 1: PhD in chemistry. Beers at a local place after work. In the process of getting divorced finalized. Cool to talk to, would hang out with again. Find out when moving a few days later that a buddy of mine also has a date with her.
Date 2: I never found out what she did, but she picked the coolest new spot in town to meet up and belonged. Way cooler than me. Awesome time. Super pretty. Bartends on the weekends at embassy events just so she can go to the after parties. Plays in a football league. Don't think I'll ever hear from her again.
Date 3: Marie, not her real name but what she goes by. Grad student in environmental policy. We talk on the phone first, she's passionate and smart. Meet for dinner. Grad school has made her pictures no longer representative of her. She mentions she could lose 40lbs any time once she's done. I believe her. She can give me a call then.
Upcoming:
Teacher, coffee date tomorrow since we're both off because of the storm.
Artist, taking to see a play on Thursday.
Law student, drinks on Saturday night.
Congressional staffer, possible Sunday night date, or next Friday if the timing doesn't work out.
World Bank employee who got sent overseas, but we've scheduled a lunch date for when she's back at the end of the month.
I think that's all? I have like 2 dozen open conversations between Bumble and Tinder. This is just one week, I have no idea how people use these apps all the time, I'm gonna stop here and wait until I've gone through this current list before I see if I want to find anyone else.
Mostly though it's because I recognize this feeling using the apps gives me. It's a gacha game. Thankfully FFBE has taught me to recognize the symptoms and now I can treat the disease before it spreads.