The "What If"

So being thirty, liking to travel, and having all the time off because of teaching can lead me to some pretty interesting situations. I am currently in Spearfish, South Dakota. I actually came to meet this man. At first, I NEVER thought of traveling anywhere to meet some "man". First to start, I have always been weary of online dating, hey, tis the way on the present. And, might I add it is scary to imagine how dating is in the future.

I have been texting this Bumble "Bee" that used to live in Las Vegas for MONTHS! We virtually met in May and continued talking all summer, through my travels of summer and the beginning of the school year. He moved back to his home town in South Dakota. Then the idea sprouted, maybe from me, most likely from me. And now I am here, in the "SoDAk".

I do not want to seem like I am not, and did not have fun. I had a blast, but however, I do think that I over romanticize everything. When it comes to my career, my family, my travels, my relationships. I think that I might be too much of a romantic.

I think I romanticized our meeting, my stay, and the whole connection between him and I. I think that I was ready for something, anything. He literally has shown me everything I look for in a man. As soon as I find the man with the total "check list"

he lives in a different state and seems distant and unavailable. Just my luck.

So the days go on, hiking, food, talking, beer, everything is great. I especially loved hiking in the snow with him. The outdoors looks good on him. Realistically speaking, I think that I was dumb to think that this texting/visit would lead to anything. I wanted to believe that those stories of people meeting people online leads to marriage, traveling the world, and perhaps kids, living in a van, living outdoors and living happily ever after could be me.

******(AS I FUCKING TYPE a couple is sharing the story that I want with the bar tender.... REALLY!?!?!?)******

Overall, I am happy that I came, I have enjoyed my time here. Although my travel plans did not turn out the way I wanted, and my romanticized idea of him has been smudged, I am glad that I will not be left with the "What if?". I do, however, think that the texting will be discontinued, the long distance pen pal is not for me. I am thankful for his kindness and his company. I just am ready for something new, different, something long term.