Dating is hard enough, but add to that a down economy and its nearly impossible.
Thoughts from the Table: Dating in a Down Economy

When my friend, S, announced that she quit dating last week, I found it amusing that I had worded my own exit from the dating scene in exactly the identical way. I quit, just like I did my last job. Somewhere along the line dating became indistinguishable from work. My world had become one long, unending interview, answering the identical questions over and over again, like why did you leave your last position? and what advantages do you have over a younger, sleeker model?

On a job interview, people are used to career changes and layoffs. On a date, however, we almost always find ourselves defending our status as over-35 and single. At least in the job sell they employ euphemisms like over-qualified, and priced out of this advertise. (Note to self if decide to subject self to dating again, when insulted by next Prince Not-So-Charming simply tell him that I am over-qualified and priced out of his advertise.)

And what if you get beyond the first interview, oops, I mean, date? Another problem arises: if youre both out of work, who pays? The last time this happened, I let him pay after all, he confessed that he had yet to lay off his housecleaner. This in my mind was my most tragic sacrifice as I seemed to have missed out on the housecleaning gene entirely. (Which might be one of the reasons I am back on the singles scene hold on I quit dating, I dont have to respond to that!)

So whats a singleton to do? I tell my biz dev clients that the point of going to networking events is not to land clients, but to meet all the people you might enjoy following up with in the future, or to come home with some vital understanding. If you do either, then it was a successful event. Why not think of your next date not as a potential relationship but as an opportunity to spend instant with someone who might actually be interesting? If you have fun or learn something (even if its that folk-singing male nurses do not exactly flip your biscuit), think about it a great date.

Table Thought for the Week: Work, or looking for work, is hard enough these days, so do not spend your costless measure doing something thats not fun. Think about what makes you happiest, and if dating fits into that, go for it! If not, succeed to yourself, and take a well-deserved sabbatical.