Since I like this man and I’d like to meet him, my thoughts have been on first dates lately. Where, how to suggest, and some good and bad ones I’ve had in the past; that sort of thing.

The last time I was doing this internet dating thing, most of my meetings were at coffee shops or cafes. This time, although there haven’t been that many, Starbucks seems to be the ideal place. You can get something to keep your hands busy, it’s crowded enough to be very public, there’s one in every town, they don’t care if you linger, and it’s easy enough to cut the date off when you’re done with your coffee or suggest that you take it to dinner. Enough people do this that the baristas totally know what you’re up to. The last one gave me the sympathetic eye, which I totally should have taken as a sign. They know their blind dates, those baristas.

But I don’t really drink coffee, and this sounds just a little mundane and stereotypical. I may suggest it with this new guy, but there’s so much pressure to having no entertainment but conversation. With someone that you really like, that’s fine, but it can be so excruciatingly nerve wracking when you’re not really clicking that sometimes it would just be better to have something else to focus on. Not something so distracting that you can’t pay attention to the other person; after all, that’s what you’re there for, but a built-in escape route. So a rock concert would be right out.

I’m actually considering using the trip I need to make anyway to the Huge Adult Beverage Store as a crutch. We’ve discussed that place before; he’s really into fancy beers, and like many religious converts, seems to want to spread the joy. I think he would be happy to educate me on the finer points of carbonated beverages, and really, I need a nice bottle of Irish Whiskey anyway for my upcoming trip.

So, shopping as a first date? It could work — if we decide that we’re really not doing it for each other, then shake hands at the checkout line and call it a day. If more investigation is required, then move on over to a nearby restaurant or coffeehouse. And if it goes really well, then obviously, sampling of the purchases is required.

This may be moot, as I don’t know that he’s ready to take the meeting plunge. I’ve noticed that men tend to be a little shy sometimes, and he’s admitted that he’s nervous about meeting and wants to get to know me first. And I’m in no hurry, but this particular trip needs to happen for me before my camping trip, so if he’s not ready, it will have to be somewhere else. Hell, he may have a favorite place too. Just  not in the desolated woods please!