Men ages 26-29: What's your dating mindset right now?

[paigej91]

Does it differ than your mindset from when you were 22-25? (likely "post-grad")?

 

Perhaps I grouped these ages poorly. Maybe there isn't much of a difference.

 

My point in asking this is to understand how you personally approach dating. How is (or isn't it) different than when you were in your early and mid-twenties?

 

Please share anything and everything

[MrCastle]

Recently turned 26. I've had more or less the same approach to dating as I've always had.

 

Taking life as it comes to me. Not looking for anything, taking what's given to me.

 

I don't say I need a girlfriend or wife by X age, or children by X age, etc

 

I don't see love as the final destination in life. Making a name for myself, doing something with my life, experiencing as much fun and interesting things as I possibly can, having an established career -- all of those things are more important to me than love.

 

I know a lot of people have a linear idea when it comes to relationships -- mess around in your teens and 20s, settle down in your 30s -- but I don't see life in linear progression. If this is all there is for me (short term relationships) I'm cool with that.

 

If the woman of my dreams happens to walk into my life, that's cool too.

[Confusedguy81]

I"m 32 and I've always been the relationship type. I was never into one night stands or getting laid. Guess it's personality.

[Dark_history]

I think a better way to ask this maybe would be guys in college and post college with careers set in. A guy that has a career will have a much different mind set than a guy still in college going to keg parties

 

I reference it this way as not everyone does the go to college at 18 and graduate in 4 years.

 

To direct towards your question, I wouldn't really be the norm, as I didn't place that high of an importance to sex when I was young. I was always in the mindset of having a serious relationship.

 

To show the seriousiness of this, the only person I have ever had sex with is my wife and we were married at the age of 25. And no, I didn't wait until marriage to have sex, it wasn't one of those deals I had several opportunities before to have sex with other women I was dating, but I never gave into them as I never saw them the way I saw my wife

[man_in_the_box]

I am 25.5 and been in a LTR since 20.5. It was more the result of a 'we'll see where it goes' attitude then anything I had planned out already. There was not plan that I 'have' to be in a relationship by age X - it just happened.

[MalachiX]

29. In my early 20s I got into one long term relationship that lasted a while and I almost felt like I was missing out on learning to date because I had fallen in love so fast. I loved my GF but still kinda had the desire to be out there experiencing new people.

 

Now it seems flipped. I'm dating quite a bit more than I used to and certainly experiencing a lot of people but I find myself longing for a meaningful relationship but everything turns into a brief fling or stops before it starts.

 

Maybe it's just grass is greener syndrome.

[Sivok]

my early 20s I was relationship minded, then from 24-26 I went manwhore mode. Now at 27 I now want alot more depth

[ken_25]

27. When I was in my early 20's I sought out girls I felt I had long term potential with. Now I try to just let it happen organically and not force anything. I've found myself going out now and just having fun rather than looking for "a partner" and by doing this, I've just met someone who I connect more to than any woman I've ever met.