what is dating to you?

[PebbleRock]

How do you define a date? Is it a dinner and a movie, or dancing.. or is it some fun activity... How long is a date supposed to last? What is a appropriate date?

[jenrm]

depends, If I meetthem out somewhere a date is usually dinner. If I meet them online usually it would be dinner or coffee.

[LSB]

For a first date, I will do anything from coffee to dinner. I plan for it to be fairly short (an hour, two at the most) so that if things aren't going well, the date ends quickly. If things are going well, we leave it on a positive note, wanting to see each other more, LOL. There are exceptions, though. For my first date with the guy I met a month ago, we met at a restaurant for lunch, and ended up connecting so well that we went to his house afterward (NO fooling around at all!) and talked for 5.5 hours. Might not have been "smart" to go to his house on a first date in terms of being "safe," but I felt like I could trust him. Wouldn't do that with most guys on a first date, though, because it's not the "safe" thing to do when you don't know someone.

Once you're "dating" someone regularly, I consider a date to be anything and everything, for as long or as short a time as possible. If he comes over here to watch a movie after the girls are alseep, that's a date to me. Last Saturday, we took a cruise on the Potomac River (next to DC) and watched the sunset behind the DC monuments. Anything in between- dinner, a movie, or even something like ice skating- would be a date to me. We haven't involved our kids yet because it's still so early, but eventually I hope we have "dates" which invloce them, too- hiking, play grounds, the pool etc.

If you're meeting a man who isn't "just a friend," then to me, it's a date, regardless of where you go, what you do, or who pays (the man, the woman, or go Dutch.)

[Danasingle]

(introduced to me by someone else and worked in the office with a long-time family friend). In one of my past relationships, he picked me up for lunch. That went great and we spent the afternoon together. That went great and he invited me for dinner with friends. (no sex there either) He brought me back home at 11:00 pm! Definitely the longest first date I have ever had.
The shortest? Hmmmm. Would you believe 30 minutes? When I meet someone through a singles medium, I hedge my bets by saying I can only stay for half an hour, because I am expected elsewhere. It it is going well, I excuse myself and cancel the other plans.

Oh, unless you consider speed-dating........... Then my shortest dates were 5 minutes. I LOVE speed dating! Lots of fun and a discreet way to meet potential partners in person. There is only a match if you BOTH want to meet the other again. Wonderful! I like it, because when I was with a matching company that matches personalities, etc. There was not any zip when we met (though I think they would have made good friends) and I could not use my 'gut' feelings.

Dana