There are two big non-problems with the title of this blog: First, it’s incredibly cheesy, but then again so is the subject matter; Second, I have never read “The Purpose Driven Life” so I am only naming it based on what I assume that book is about. Hopefully by the end of this blog, the cheesiness will be justified and I will have read the book that is this blog’s namesake.

Alas, What am I talking about? I am writing on the first night of an impending adventure. At 31 years young, I moved out of my hometown(Orlando), where my job, family, friends, and house are, so I can find the love of my life.

My twenties were quite exciting. I spent 3 years in Haiti working for a non-profit. I left a PhD program, where I was studying Economic Development, with my masters degree after 2 years. I walked 500 miles of the Camino De Santiago along with many other international forays. Then I spent the last 4 years back in my hometown working as a Data Scientist. After my experiences in Haiti, giving normal life a try was worth a shot. To my surprise, I rather enjoyed it. I hoped I could meet a nice lady and start life’s next adventure.

As is often the case, my plan went awry. A tough breakup. Feeling stuck. Not meeting anyone who tickled my fancy after years of dating. It’s time for a new strategy!

My analytical brain went into overdrive pondering what the best way to meet the love of my life is in the modern world of dating. Especially, since I’m such an oddball with a controlled taste for adventure. People I connect with don’t exactly grow on trees.

You meet most of the singles you will meet in a new city in the first 6 months based on your work, church, and hobbies. If you want to meet the most single girls possible, spend 3 months in a city and if you don’t meet anyone interesting then move to the next city. Pick your cities based on your type and let the fun begin!

If I was in my twenties, that’s what it would be about: fun. Pushing through 31, I am ready for the real thing. But, the dating world is a mess. Dating apps, Ghosting, Social media, Pandemics, Being tempted by infinite choice, Dating multiple people at the same time. A culture of treating others as objects. It’s an absolute dumpster fire for someone looking for the real thing.

The only way through is to know exactly what you want and own it. I am looking for someone who has a deep sense of purpose in life focused on service to others and someone who is a deep thinker. Those are the qualities I can’t live without. Without those, I’d be settling.

First stop: Jacksonville. Full court press!

Dating culture may be a mess right now, but I can’t control dating culture. I can only create my own culture.