Originally posted by aly
That is some wonderful advice. I agree with everything you said 100% and you put it very well. For me, the only way to have a good, solid relationship is to start as friends and let it naturally develop.
Ditto to this and to Pit Chick. I was also in my 30's before I met Terry. I had given up on looking and decided I needed to live my own life the way I wanted to. I like motorcycles, so instead of sitting at home listening to them go by on the street and moping about how I didn't have a guy to ride behind, I went out and got my motorcycle license and my own bike! I found some single friends who also had motorcycles and we had a ball going all over the country with our bikes. One morning we were on a breakfast run and there's was a "new" guy sitting at the end of the table. Saw him a few more times and eventually started dating him - casually though. Usually with the motorcycles and/or friends were involved. It eventually grew to me moving in and we've now been together for 10 years.

So, my advice is to quit trying. Live your life and do the things you enjoy and eventually it will happen - and it will be better than if you tried to force it. Also, when your daughter goes away to college that will free up a whole lot of time for you and you can start pursuing interests that you have let go by the wayside since you don't have much time. It's entirely possible that at that time you will find it easier to find and maintain a relationship.

I say forget about men. Don't hate them, just forget about them and let them find you. The right one will show up when you're least expecting it.