Male acquaintance emails 20 years later!

[Tarantella43]

I got an email out of the blue from someone I haven’t had any contact with since I was a student 20 years ago! He was on the edge of one of my friendship groups at the time. He found my email address online and wrote a short message saying how am I and what am I up to now? I sent a short message back with a brief update on what I do for a living these days. He has written back the next day saying that I sound the same and that that’s good, and asks me a question about my work. Do you think this is likely a lead into a dating attempt? I feel quite nonplussed! I’ve never dated or been with this man. It’s nice to hear from him and I’d like to be in touch but I have a boyfriend, and it’s been 20 years and I know nothing of what has happened to this friend over these decades. What would you do? Obvs mention boyfriend if continue to be in touch. It feels a strange wormhole into the past!

If I liked him at the time, I'd probably be quite pleased to have a catch-up. If I didn't, I wouldn't engage much. Don't overthink it - it'll probably fizzle out quickly either way. Doesn't sound like he's done anything untoward. I often wonder what past acquaintances are up to.

I got an email out of the blue from an ex-boyfriend (we were together 3 years and lived together for the 3rd - I ended it because he was treating me increasingly badly) I hadn't seen for... 28 years. He was still married (to the woman he'd met and married within 3 months of us splitting), grown up kids, etc. I still have no idea why he contacted me.