To not want to ‘sit in the park’ on a second date?

[LookOverHere]

I met a chap on a dating app a few weeks ago, we met up for a drink for our first date and it was fun. He’s calm, has a good sense of humour, nice smile, good job. Both in our late 40’s. He texted me the day after to say he’d love to see me again, and since then he’s sent the occasional text, thoughtful, remembers what I’ve said. But… for the second he suggested “shall we sit in the park?”

AIBU to be disappointed with this? What does it even mean… I’m too old to be hanging out in the park! That’s where I had my teenage dates. The weather forecast also says rain. It’s not a picnic, or he’d mention it. I think it’s a low effort suggestion, a bit weird for a professional guy, and something I might do with a friend or colleague (we sometimes grab a coffee in the park). All my successful relationships all started with a romantic meal. Is this how it is these days? All views welcome…

I would just say no. I bet he’s tight and doesn’t want to have to pay for dinner.

Either he has money problems or he's tight.

I love parks so I'd be thrilled personally. Especially if it was a cool one I'd never been to before.

But yeah it's maybe more of a mate thing than a date thing, or a mutual love of parks thing

That made me laugh. FFS couldn't he think of anything better than that? He's acting like he's in his early teens.

Is it that he's short of money, do you think?

Just reply ‘I don’t think I’m a sit in the park sort of gal. How about we ….’ ~ insert something like visit a museum, walk along the river, do a circular walk to a pub or whatever else you’d enjoy. It could be he wants to get to know you, it could be money is an issue, it could be he hates noisy indoor places. Some men are just useless with ideas. Take control and see where it goes.

I think I’d prefer to sit in the park than have the pressure of a romantic meal on the second date.

But if you’d prefer a meal, just say that.

Is there a coffee shop in park? Why hasn’t he suggested there? Does he mean evening? Surely normal to go for a drink

Who paid for the drinks on the first date?

Who invited who for the drinks?

I wouldn’t mind walking around the park and then getting a coffee but just sitting there, no.

I would really like this, but it's not for everyone! If the forecast says rain that's a good reason/excuse to propose an alternative plan.

I'd honestly prefer the park to a meal.

I’d suggest something else and see what he says.

I wouldn't mind this at all - my first date with DH was eating a Tesco meal deal by the lake though

Picnic with wine and deli lunch on a sunny day, yes; huddling in a cagoule on a park bench clutching a Costa in the rain, definitely not ! It's July and I'm sitting on my sofa in a woolly polo neck jumper. The weather is not playing ball for this type of date at the moment !

Just because he didn't say picnic that might be what he meant.
It's summer - picnic date would be lovely.

I don't think there's anything wrong with this.
Less pressure and some fresh air. As long as it's not raining it will be lovely

Also depends on the park.
One with a lake, some ducks, art trail, old statues etc - I love parks like that.

I love parks and would prefer that to a meal, but not all parks are created equally. My local parks wouldn't be as cool as say Hyde Park , but I guess it's not for everyone.

Battersea Park, Hyde Park etc are very full of loved up couples atm.. loads of nice things to do in the parks

This. He’s probably just worded it weird. There’s a difference between a proper park and being sat on a bench in an actual playground. I don’t think he’s going to ask you to push him on the swings 😬 I’d be tempted to go just to see what happens. Also it may be a financial situation. I do find that men can’t win on here sometimes. On ‘who should pay for the date threads’ there’s always comments that if the man can’t pay for a meal/drinks then they should have picked a coffee date or walk. But when one asks for that then he’s a weirdo for not taking you out to dinner. And he’ll get judged for not being able to afford it, but honestly dating is bloody expensive, and I know I couldn’t afford to pay for dinner and wine for two at a restaurant right now. Doesn’t mean I’m financially irresponsible or a cheapskate

What's wrong with sitting in a park? Scenery/greenery/fresh air/birds etc etc
That would be a lovely suggestion for me and an opportunity for conversation!
Nothing to do with 'stinginess' at all

I would also prefer the park to a meal.

'No, thanks, my days of necking White Lightning on the swings are long over. Let's have an indoor date.'

No reason why he should stand the cost of the date. The OP could always offer to split it.

I’d love a little sit in the park, but it’s not really a classic date location, I get that.

Is he stuck circa 2020? 😂😷