My question is pretty straightforward. As the title says, I work from home, and I'm no longer interested in using dating apps. After witnessing a string of horror stories and learning that these apps are a breeding ground for LVM men, I started to reflect on my past relationships, and I realized that my best partnerships were with men I met at school, work, in mutual friend groups, or within local organizations. Well, I've since graduated and now work from home full time and am self-employed; furthermore, I work with all-women teams and companies (personal choice.) I compensated with dating apps, but now that I've decided to move on from apps as a serious dater, I feel a little like I'm starting from square one, and I'll have to put in much more effort. Should I make my socials more alluring to attract men in my online WFM networks?
What strategies do you use to meet HVM IRL without dating apps? What type of places do you frequent or circles do you use for networking? I'm moving soon; are there certain cities (globally) that are better for more traditional dating styles/habits? How many dates do you secure weekly without dating apps to yield positive results? I have fun with dating apps, but the more I learn about how men use them, the more uncomfortable I feel, maybe I can keep my profiles active as a supplement, but I kinda just want to delete my accounts. I want to go back to observing men publicly in shared social settings as a means of preliminary vetting.
Million dollar question. Don’t think anyone has the answer bc it boils down to how to meet hv prospects in real life. The common rhetoric here is pursue good healthy hobbies/interests.
You have to get out of the house and meet people. This requires effort but pays dividends because it keeps you from going insane due to lack of social connection, and it also allows you to level up by developing your skill(s) in other areas. My advice is to join a Meetup group for an activity you enjoy, like hiking, art walks, tennis, golf, sailing, indoor climbing, etc., and/or take lessons in some new skill you always wanted to learn like cooking, dance, a new language, painting, etc. Don't do this to meet men, but to better yourself. You'll be giving HVM a chance to meet you while hopefully also making new friends and enjoying a fulfilling hobby or sport.
OLD is a dumpster fire and I encourage women to avoid it completely. Just by its very nature, it attracts low-effort scrotes who would rather push buttons on a phone than go outside and meet women in person. Anyone can be anything they want to be in an online profile, but it's much harder for men to hide their red flags when you're around them in person. I used OLD in the past, including several apps that claimed to be aimed at people wanting "real" relationships, and met the very worst people I have ever dated that way. You are much better off meeting men organically IMO.
I think eye contact is a good way to let men know you're open to being approached. I have a little game I developed to practice making eye contact with men in public. I call it the 5 guys game. It's the idea that there are 5 guys within a mile of you at all times who you have the potential to be attracted to and date. I came up with it one day when I was reminiscing an old flame. What popped into my head was - you know there's like 5 of him within a 1 mile radius all the time right? You're just not looking! So what I do now whenever I'm in public is actually look at men. Each men is a yes or no. yes, no, yes, no. It's kind of like Tinder but in person. I'm actually looking men in the eye now (briefly enough to where sometimes they notice but not staring and coming off as a creep) Opening myself up to men in person is a work in progress but it beats using the apps! This also helps me realize the abundance of men around whereas before I was feeling nothing but scarcity.
Get out of the house. I’m telling you - do sports and activities that have statistically more men than women if you’re not bothered about making friends and you’re seeking a man. If you want friends, and care about your feelings over the long term, I recommend doing women’s activities. I can’t think of many, as I’m noticing there seems to be more men out and about these days than women.
i think the best thing you can do is got out and to things you enjoy. could be hiking, running, going to the movies, dancing lessons, etc. activities which involve more people help you meet potential partners and you get to see how they behave in social situations. and you won't be leaving your house with the sole purpose of meeting someone. it would simply be a consequence of investing your time on yourself and thigns you like doing.
I have worked from home for about 6 years now. Have run a successful social life. Moved across countries as well. Partly due to staying in touch with family & friends very constantly, and partly meeting 'women only' ± 3 years my age. I meet these women through my sewing interests but I have also found friends in a Japanese culture group (had common friends through a prior work place), book clubs (your source to lovely, intelligent ladies) and once in a charity event I volunteered for. I avoid circles of friends like the plague. Bonus points for work related colleagues who may not be in your department but would give you a lift to work at the drop of a hat. They are again usually culturally of the same background as me so I have the same commitment of going into the office once a . I have always invested in all these relationships with full commitment as well. This is my mom's practice and she is enjoying retirement in style. My very constant friend who will qualify as my ride and die and I have husbands who are great friends. I met her through a Japanese meet-up group. I always stick to people with similar educational backgrounds and strictly no criminal record, smoking & drinking habits. So, on the verge of stating the obvious, always on the lookout for friends with a very common link. And, I endeavour to also remain friendly to people at the shops, butchers, parlours, stations, museums, libraries etc from daily life. Because, I have a selectively social tendency. Hope that helps.
I love this question. Honestly, you can meet them anywhere, but your chances increase the more people you are meeting. And to increase them further, you want to meet these people in circles that perhaps weed out poor character (i.e. you have more chance of meeting your HVM at a yacht club than in a crack house).
Here is a useful strategy that a friend of mine used, and yes, she found her HVM...
I call it STEALTH MODE. "Be social to everyone". Strike up little conversations with lots of people (obviously not creeps) but the lady who serves you coffee, cleaners, the gals at yoga, your accountant. (For tips on being social see Vanessa Van Edwards youtube vids). Be constantly looking for social connections. Get to know peoples names, and use them. No oversharing, get the other people talking. Take up a range of hobbies that involve other people (of both sexes). Become known as that friendly, charming, chatty person. Why? Because when you chat with men, it will just be seen as "normal" for you. Oh, she's just friendly and chatty to everyone. Benefit? It lets you scope out men in a non-sexual way. They don't think you're flirting. Women don't think you're flirting. You're just that friendly person. For extra edge, never reveal your sexuality. You *might* be a lesbian. Bonus points for a short haircut and semi-androgynous wardrobe. Then organise group outings that are mixed sex, an even number of men and women. Make it wholesome. Befriend other women who are kind, reliable and good-hearted. Avoid drama queens. Invite along any men that you have met who seem decent. Get to know them in these group settings (e.g. movie nights, hiking, gallery exhibitions). Make sure all events are in a public place---do not invite the men into your home or even let them know your address. Then you can judge them in a group setting. Over time you should develop a sense of who is more suitable/high value seeming. Once you have scoped the men out over time, then you can pick your moment to flirt. (there may be more than one....you can have separate little social circles, (e.g. the kayaking crew vs the hiking group). Pick a moment where you have a little privacy and touch his arm or look into his eyes. You might say something flirtatious. Then if he's into you, he will pursue. All FDS rules apply.
Not sure about meeting men specifically, but I've met a lot of my female friends through Facebook groups. I've joined one for foodies, one for games, one for potlucks, one for outdoorsy stuff, etc. Guys do go to these meetups, but none of them seem particularly HV.