could delay or prevent a more in- depth reply. Textpert, a free app that crowdsources text messages, comes to the rescue with suggested responses by other members to help anyone encountering writer’s block.
Distance Hurdles Long distance isn’t often a deterrent when love is right. A California vegan that spent four years on multiple vegan dating sites found her match thousands of miles away in New York through NaturalAwakeningsSingles. com. When an eventual fi rst meeting is more than a quick coffee date, prior Skype or FaceTime chats can confi rm that the photo is current and messages were more than pickup lines. “Technology has made a tremendous difference in price, accessibility and reach,” says Crosby. “Members now post selfi es as headshots, shoot their own videos and can access potential matches anywhere in the world.”
Discerning Kindred Spirits Not all online relationships are love matches. Sometimes it’s enough to
fi nd like-minded people. “Natural
AwakeningsSingles.com is a safe place to talk about spiritual awakening without someone looking at you like you have three heads. I’ve met a number of people who speak my language,” says Sharmaine Monteith, a sales manager in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “When people care about the environment, it changes who they are and how they live. My profi le maps my beliefs and my heart.” A University of Chicago study asked 20,000 people that married between 2005 and 2012 how they met. One third said online; half used another kind of dating service. Another telling statistic showed that those that met at work, in a bar or by blind date were 25 percent more likely to divorce. Researchers think this is because online daters know each other better before meeting. When folks fudge a bit in their profi le, it’s mostly about weight and height.
Green Hot Spots “It’s easier to fi nd a vegan date in the produce aisle of the grocery store
than at the beach,” advises April Masini, a New York City author of four relationship books and the AskApril. com advice column. “Whether you’re looking in person or online for dates, focus on the areas where you’d naturally fi nd others who are green like you.” Community gardens, river cleanups and Earth Day celebrations spring to mind.
Make a green impression by wearing clothing made of sustainable fabrics and offering a small gift of a fair trade item, organic chocolates or native wildfl ower bouquet. The choice of going to a locally sourced restaurant will include an eco-friendly ride to get there. A 2014 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 50 percent of Americans over the age of 16 are unmarried—yet most believe marriage is extremely important. With all the people still looking for love, online meet-ups can dramatically improve success.
Connect with the freelance writer via
AveryMack@mindspring.com.
February 2016 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44