Done with dating apps! Tell me how you met you OH IRL!

[Workermum]

I'm so over dating apps and realising life isn't like a movie- I'm not going to get some cute guy's number when our dog's leads get tangled or some other such shite. And I'm too old to go clubbing! So tell me people- how did you meet your OH IRL after 40? Tell me it's possible- give me hope!!

Over 40, walking the dog! He was a neighbour so we gradually got to know each other as friends which was lovely…there was such a deep recognition inside that we were each other’s that one day we just walked up to each other and kissed. Together ever since.

My new years resolution for 2021 was to stop actively looking for a boyfriend and delete all the dating apps. At 11:30pm on NYE 2020 I got a Facebook message from a guy I dated at highschool when we were just 13. I'd had a few drinks and was feeling brave so I invited him over. I saw him every since then and we were married 2 years later.

I also said I'd never date a guy with kids because I couldn't be arsed with the drama of the crazy ex. I am now a stepmum of 3 kids and by jings the ex is batshit! 🤣 But I've never been happier!

Do you have hobbies? That's a great way to meet people and at least you'll have that in common.

I don’t understand why people act like you can’t meet people irl anymore, of course it’s possible most of my friends met their partners irl. You just need to have a good social life ideally!

Shared hobby. Not an immediate romantic connection, just chatted as part of a group after I started attending. He contacted me directly early in lockdown, we chatted for a couple of months before meeting up. Went from there.

@BananaSlug I have a great social life thanks! But hasn't happened for me IRL so far, that's why I'm asking how it's happened for others- Feels a lot harder in my 40s than last time I was single in my 20s!

My husband's widowed stepmother met her new husband at church. They are in their seventies aand they are like newly weds. Neither of them are particularly religious I should add.

Mid-40s here and single since about a year.

I did meet my current squeeze through OLD but before that I went out with a neighbour who lives in the same apartment block. We had just chatted very briefly before but also kind of flirty. Then I ran into him at a bar around the corner late one Saturday evening and we kind of hit it off. We only went out a few times until we realised we perhaps weren't exactly right for each other.

Before that I was stopped in the street by a stranger who asked if we could go for a coffee, we did and then we had a few more dates before I came to the conclusion he was far too young. I think just be open, make eye contact, ask them out if you are interested (they are very likely to say yes if they are single) and just generally mix with a lot of people.

Through mutual friends at a shared interest. Both divorced and well over 40, lol.

Discussing olive oil and the different flavours in Aldi.
Recommending red wine in the wine aisle in Tesco
Complimented her on her nails in Costa. We were in the queue
She was having trouble with her petrol lock on the car at a Shell
I volunteered at a charity and she was also a volunteer
Meditation class

@noego I love these- as if I needed more of an excuse to hang out in the wine aisle of Tesco

Join a band. Give it a couple of years. Start seeing the singer.

I was 46 and it worked for me 😉