Lonely Too Long

Dear Suze,  I've been lonely too long and just want to share my remaining days with a nice, honest, and most of all, faithful woman.  I'm retired and my kids are gown with families of their own.  I'm told that I'm kind and loyal, a decent cook, and handy around the house.  I don't want to be someone's banker and I don't need a nurse.  A golf partner would be fun but not necessary.  I've been on a dating site for 6 months but can't seem to find the right woman.  What am I doing wrong?   --Lonesome in Los Angeles

Dear Lonesome,  You sound like a winner to me.  The #1 reason that most seniors join a dating site is for companionship, so you're in good company.  But everyone dates for different reasons and it's not unusual if you don't connect right away.  Keep at it and you'll get better as you become more comfortable.  

Vet your prospective mates thoroughly before you meet.  Get all those thorny deal-breakers out of the way so you don't waste time on dates that have zero chance of success.  Allow about 2 hours for first dates to enjoy a simple activity like a street fair, thrift/junk shops, or museum, rather than over coffee staring anxiously into each other's eyes.  Be patient-it's a numbers game and you have to put in the time and effort.    --SQ