Date More -- And Date Better

Dating does not have to -- and ought not -- be expensive.  Our current culture has created the heuristic that dating is emotionally and financially so burdensome that nobody does that anymore!

Real dating is not the Prom On Steroids problem that has become so common in our schools:  a date is a modest arrangement of limited duration where people can comfortably get acquainted in a structured environment; not an all-day and all-night affair requiring a travel agent and multiple changes of specialized clothes, as well as a billboard contract or a skywriting stunt pilot to invite your guest -- and a video team to record the results for posterity.  Really.

Think of Prom as an expensive, over-rated fundraiser and change the rules.

Our children have noticed that the "day date" parts of the school dances are more fun than the expensive dance parts.  Group date activities have included bike rides, hikes and picnics in the canyon, and even outings to the local nickel arcade.  These dates cost a fraction of the total Prom Price Tag, yet provide the greater part of the total WOW! value for Prom day.

Consider what could happen if groups of young people planned two-hour day dates every week or two and considered that the (occasional, expensive and long) school dances were sufficient events in themselves?  We might actually have to overhaul the dances (ideas on that another time).  With inexpensive planned activities, dating overall would improve:  dates would be more fun and within financial reach.  Reducing the financial commitment also reduces the pressure for other kinds of commitment, and frequent outings with a variety of people in the comfort of real-life activities provides better opportunities to get acquainted and practice social skills.

Take your budgeted time and money and date more -- and date better.

One of our favorite dates was when my husband and I made a pie and went on a picnic. It was winter, but we knew of a public place where some Christmas trees were set up with white lights and we took our picnic basket (complete with the KFC special) and dined in the candlelight of a sparkling forest.  We had great conversation and an experience that only grows sweeter in the rosy light of memory.  Another time I met my husband at a park for a walking date during his lunch hour.  I waited as he approached my car to help me out, then turned on the prepared music.  Our outdoor dance together in the parking lot cost only modest amount of creativity. 

Date more.  And date better!


Photos from sxc.hu.  Bike photo used by permission of wookie.