u/Excellent-Pin4196

I jokingly told my friends I wanted to go on 55 first dates this year because I turned 55.

The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if that might actually be a better goal than obsessing over finding "the one."

For those of you who got back into dating after a long marriage or relationship, did you ever set a goal to simply meet people instead of finding a relationship?

Did it make you more hopeful, more selective, or just completely burned out?

And one bonus question... how many conversations do you usually juggle at once on the apps? I can't decide if talking to multiple people is smart, overwhelming, or just the reality of modern dating.

After more than 25 years out of the dating world, this feels like learning an entirely new culture.

I have encountered men shaving up to 10 years off of their age (I suspect for the same reason) and have suspected many others of "fudging the numbers". I'm going to correct my age because I'd rather start with honesty, but the experiment definitely changed who was seeing my profile. It made me wonder how many people on dating apps are "optimizing" their age to beat the algorithm. Have you noticed the same thing? If you've ever changed your age, what happened?

I never thought political affiliation would be such a big deal in dating, but here we are... I am a moderate Christian with strong belief in human rights and equality. I can agree with some conservative policies and views but certainly not all. I cannot agree with the MAGA culture it just truly does not align with my core beliefs and my over empathic heart. That said, I am curious if I am eliminating potential matches by eliminating "conservative". I don't want to get into a debate here or on the apps over my tenets just truly would like to understand how to discern.

Finding dating apps to be lack luster in this department. Men who say they are looking for relationships run the minute things get serious. Athletic types only want toned and tight (I am 55 and birthed 3 children, I do pilates but there are still residual effects of aging) younger women. Many have never been married and have never had children and worse are still hoping too. I just would like a well groomed, average build, emotionally available and professional man who has no delusions about his age and is looking for a true partner who has life experience. Does this even exist?