Far away from the Desert, but still bone dry

I consider myself a fairly eligible bachelorette. Good career, well -educated, active, good sense of humour, easy-going, fashionable and adventurous. However, when it comes to the Ottawa dating scene, times are tough, and it’s just not me...there are many single, like-minded, eligible women in the Ottawa area who agree. There are just not enough men to go around. A veritable wasteland. We might of missed a financial recession, but now we have ourselves what I like to call a ‘mancession’. Just ask any single female between the ages of 25 to 35 in Ottawa and I am sure she will confirm that we are in a time of serious restraint!

It seems, when it comes to men between the ages of say 25-35, Ottawa stats go something like this: 50 percent married/in a committed relationship, 20 percent gay, (which is fine, I love them and have many gay friends) but the sad part is this is the population who many of us heterosexuals idealize as the perfect mate (usually gorgeous, well dressed and inclined to shop); 20 percent weird/jerks which leaves about 10 percent that are actually eligible and may have the characteristics that make them dateable. I am certainly not a mathematician, but I can assure you, University stats have prepared me for this: these odds suck…

In my quest to meet “Mr. Right” I have joined a variety of sports teams, I attend a gym and am active socially. To put it simply, I don’t sit at home and whine about the fact that I can’t meet anyone. Aside from scoring a part time job at Canadian Tire or the Beer Store, I’ve given what it takes to improve my odds... it’s just straight up hard to meet available, successful, cool guys in Ottawa.

Subsequently, Ottawa ladies are generally left with one other option to meet these eligible bachelors – online dating, you know, eHarmony, Plenty of Fish, Match.com, Lava life; I mean the list can go on really. But the one thing I can assure you is this...good luck. Yes we see them on tv, giving their love testimony and making their wedding plans, but once again I think the odds of finding your soul mate this way are about 1 in maybe a million. Best to take the money it costs and buy extra lottery tickets, if we’re talking stats again.

 

On the other hand, if you want to put a little bit of effort into the online thing, you can usually arrange for approximately one date a week, if you’re so inclined. Which totally means that your odds of meeting an available and worthy man should somehow be increased, right?

But ladies beware: this online pool of dudes could be a little disappointing. This brings me back to a very important element of the previous stats. Let’s look at a compilation of the results of various on-line dates as reported by my single friends: 75 percent douchy/unemployed/just looking to get laid. So to any of the women participating in the world of online dating, beware of whose out there! If your communications lead to a face to face date, ensure you have a potential escape/back-up plan, your sense of humour and a full glass of wine. Know going into the game that you are without a doubt going to sift through alot of trash... but if you persevere and continue, odds are your prince will arrive – it’s mathematically based, and that’s a science you can depend on!

If you don’t find Mr. Right, at the very least you will have a slew of ridiculous and hilarious stories to share…. Stay tuned for my next one.

Signed,
Single in the Sahara