Have a little more fun on that date...

Dinner. Meet for drinks. Grab a coffee. Catch a movie.
I’ve done these, and whatever combination they come in but never with a whole lot of luck. Then I started doing these:
Picnic at a supermarket. Hiking around railroad tracks. Grabbing a ride on a ferry. Or a dusk-time walk through a graveyard… and have had some incredible results.

Adventure Dating – Your Dinner and a Movie Reinvented

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not lauding a date in graveyard over the standard meeting for drinks or catching a movie (okay, maybe I’m lauding it over the movie a bit), what I’m trying to get at is this: Dating is about meeting someone new, being entertained by and entertaining that person and sharing new experiences – it’s about being social and physically interacting with someone.

I’m not a fan of the droning (and frankly twisted) twenty-questions compatibility interview that we’ve come to accept as a “norm” for dating formats. My very first, official “date” I ever went on was effectively this interview format over coffee after which I immediately vowed “never again!” It didn’t seem natural, it wasn’t nearly as fascinating as it could have been and quite frankly it was boring – I had short-changed what could have been a really unique, sincere and “nothing to lose” experience and placed us both in a stifling environment that gave way only to status quo.

Since then I’ve focused on the date being an experience for both. To do that I summon my inner child, asking “What will I find fun?“, and let the ideas come rolling. It’s only a date after all, you really have nothing to lose, so have fun with it (in respectable moderation of course)!

The number one rule is this: Don’t be attached to the outcome.

Focus on what’s happening “in the now” and I guarantee your dating experiences will improve (this can be true for both sexes).

But Xander, I’m not a ‘creative’ person – I run blank when I try to come up with dates

Non-sense… Relax and do what you like to do! A little creative spin on, say, going to a movie and viola… adventure! Here are some examples of how to make the traditional date an adventure date…

Dinner and a Movie
The Adventure Dating answer to Dinner and a Movie would be: Take it inside. Invite the person over, cook dinner together (or maybe make a desert, or a finger food pot-luck) and watch an old movie the both of you may have seen before. You can revel in your favourite parts, discuss particular scenes, tear the movie apart (making fun of Twilight anyone?). Neither of you cook? Well, it’ll probably be a rather hilarious adventure (seriously, learn how to cook… something)! My suggestion in that case would be making cookies (think that scene from Ghost but with delicious cookie batter).

Meeting for Drinks
The Adventure Dating solution? Take it on the road. Yes, in some countries/states/provinces/territories there are some minor legalities involved, plan accordingly. Pack a bag with opaque mugs, a favourite red/white wine (wine is easiest in this situation, but you could bring whatever) and head to a walkable area of your city or town for some discrete fun. Yes, sitting down for drinks can be great depending on the venue. But this way just has a certain mischievousness to it. Try setting it up like so:

You: “Lets meet for drinks”
Your Date: “Sure, when were you thinking”
You: “Thursday evening, meet me at the park gates on main street, and dress warm”

So, now that I’ve got your brain flowing, start having fun. I’ve shared a few of mine (and would gladly share some more), if you’ve got some adventure date ideas of your own leave them in the comments below or post your results. Remember, don’t be attached to the outcome, just have fun with this brand new individual you’re hanging out with.

X.