Taking care of the children and keeping them busy. I do that a lot. But I don't have kids. Yesterday, one of my temporary kids was on my neck for at least an hour. A lot of energy and fun talks. I joined my other single friend here. As a single man here in the countryside of Portugal it's good to realize what kind of life we actually have. I used to live in the crowded country of the Netherlands and mostly in big cities. Places full of distractions and a big pond full of good looking fish. A good place to get that 'perfect' catch. When I decided to move to Portugal, one question popped up...are you NUTS? Although there is a huge ocean here, it's hard to get the right catch.
On this picture with my nuts, I look very outdated.
We were preparing some food for the animals in the garden, one of the foods was a line of nuts. I put it around my neck as a signal, it's time to attract some birds again. What a different lifestyle it is over here. In the past I had some serious longer relationships. Maybe one of them was even 'the one'. That one I met by using a dating app (Tinder). Although there were around 30 different dates, before I met the right one. In the beginning I didn't want to use dating apps, when these apps started around 10 years ago. But on the other side, it was a good way to get rid of my shyness. It worked!
The last few years I dated a lot. The dating scene changed and it changed me as well. Getting connected seems more difficult these days and trust it hard to find. I could write a book about dating, full of funny and weird experiences. The apps are loaded with fake profiles and ghosting seems to be the new hype. I collected a lot of stuff in my life, but collecting matches and don't do anything with it...is a waste of time in my opinion. The only thing that is getting hot from all these so called matches, is the battery of my smartphone.
During my solo travels around the world, I used Tinder for another reason. Meeting locals to hang out with. I actually made several trips with people I met on Tinder and some of them are still good friends I visit regularly. It's an accessible way to meet people in areas that you don't know. Not seeing them as a tour guide, but to experience the country in a more social way. When I travel solo, it's important for me to have social contact...in person.
Being here in Portugal is a good way to realize what makes me happy. I am seeing a lot of people traveling together. And also meeting many families who decided to move to this country. I realize that trying to change my life while having kids, would be a bit intense. Do I want them? Time will tell. At the moment I am happy that I can just return to my little green home, when the screaming starts and kids are taking over the place with a less fun vibe. I also see the struggles couples and families are facing, while they are trying to build a new life here. The freedom that I experience as a solo traveller is definitely an advantage. Although the loneliness is killing me sometimes. Why is that annoying Britney Spears song popping up in my head right now? I am a nineties kid. Anyway...It would be nice to share the experiences and spend cosy times together during this cold and wet winter. Why shouldn't I use dating apps here then?
Like I mentioned, in the Netherlands I used to have a huge pond to fish from. Here the fish are slightly different. The pond doesn't have a lot of fish. It does have a few frogs... Sorry, I am picky.
"But around the ocean, you could find all these hot surf chicks right?"
True, I can see them...in the distance, on their surfboards...waiting for the right wave. I am not a surfer, although I do like to watch surfing. Especially at big wave area's like Nazaré. I bought a wetsuit and a bodyboard last year, because I do like to be in the ocean and do some extreme sports. Although after the bike accident last year, my knee did not recover. And I am still not able to be in the ocean on the board. So, am I interesting enough? If you're not a surfer, you're not getting a lot of attention. I might be in a different age range as well, not in my early twenties anymore. On the other side, the ocean is also full of 'whales' and 'sharks'... so do I wanna be in there? 😜
Oops, it sounds like I am looking for excuses...
Let's continue with the dating apps. My profile shows my life as it is these days...living in a van and being the adventurer. I do understand this will make the selection a lot smaller. But the numbers here in Portugal on Tinder are seriously small. Also here, fake profiles and a ghosting community. Live and travel in the remote parts of Portugal...I have to stop searching. Not only for love, but also for paradise. Continue to just go with the flow. Enjoy life, enjoy the time with friends that I meet along the way. Don't try to attract birds with my nuts. I took the neckless off and put the damn nuts on the table and guess what happened? It got the attention of some pussy... and she started playing with it. You see, it's peanuts! 🤣