I wonder how she has been? Hi Pumpi! Miss you, girl!

Long distance is hard and rarely works out. But it can, if both people are really committed to making it work. What that looks like is different for everyone. For me, my partner and I video call on Zoom or Google Meets twice a day, in the morning and at night. We also watch movies and series together while we are on Zoom. We text a lot as well. Even though we are in different countries right now, we have regular visits. Both of us take turns traveling to see the other. Because of my work, I get a week off in October, 3 1/2 weeks off in December, 2 weeks off in Spring and 7 weeks off in the summer. We spend most of that time together. We sometimes travel on vacation together a well. He also visits me even when I'm working. This part can be tricky, because international flights are expensive, and 20+ hour journies are not fun. The jet lag is ROUGH, and it is always difficult to acclimate to an 10- or 11-hour time change (depending on daylight savings time). Although we can't be together for every holiday, we make sure we are together for Christmas and our birthdays. I also think you have to have an end game in the works. How will you end up together? Will one of you move to be with the other? If both partners are not equally committed, it will fizzle out. Physical touch is important in a relationship and it can be difficult not being able to reach out and touch your partner whenever you want. Make sure you're both all in before you do it. I hope it works out for you. Good luck!

Hi fabulous Crystal!


OT: Trying to order new vape pens, but the guy is not replying to my message.

Enjoyable. I think you should add that you want a woman with a pickle fetish. I think you seem like a man who deserves a woman who loves pickles.

Kit Kat is the only one I know of. Are there others, Slim?

WhatsApp was founded by Americans. People in the US do use it, especially if they have loved ones who live in different countries. I communicate with my daughters and Mark with it all the time. It's just not used as prevalently in the US as other countries.

After living in a few different countries, I've noticed that a lot of countries do a pay-as-you-go top-off kind of phone plan, or have an inexpensive month-to-month plan that can end any time you don't top up. Most of those plans (in the countries I've lived in, anyway) do not allow you to call or text long-distance. So apps like WhatsApp are very important when you need to call or text someone in other countries.

In the US, we have long-term phone plans (mine were always 2 year contracts) that often have unlimited data and calling. So it's easy to just call or text anyone. If you travel, you can contact your mobile provider and pay to add an international component for as long as you're gone and not have to buy a SIM card (most phones in the US are locked if they are part of a mobile contract anyway).

WhatsApp is very important where I am now. Everyone uses it. Even my school has whole-staff WhatsApp groups where they send out important announcements. Each class has a parent WhatsApp group. Most businesses allow you to communicate with them via WhatsApp; I make all my appointments via WhatsApp. I think it's a great app.

That said, if someone on Mingle was chatting me up and wanted to move straight to WhatsApp without getting to know me first, I would indeed see that as a red flag. The red flag isn't WhatsApp itsef--it's moving too quickly.

I see what you did, there.



OT: Gummi Bears

Agree.

If you find the conversation lacking they likely aren’t for you. Probably best to move on.

At the day spa, getting a pedicure.

I actually prefer that. In some European countries that I've been to, there are no separate women's or men's restrooms. There are just individual stalls that are completely enclosed from floor to ceiling, and a sink area that's out in the open. In my opinion, that's how all restrooms should be. Bugs my nerves that in a lot of public places, men's restrooms don't have a line, but women's restrooms often have huge lines out the door. Sometimes after a 12-hour flight, people really need to go to the bathroom, man!

I think sometimes we think that we need to be feeling joy all the time in order to be happy.

In my opinion, yes, joy is a part of it, but it's more a sense of contentment or fulfillment. It's having a positive mindset and appreciating the little things, such as a perfect spring day, kisses from your dog, the smell of freshly-brewed coffee, or a sense of satisfaction for a job well done.

Hi Merry! I’m happy to run into your fabulousness today! 🥰

Merry again?

Vibes?

Gia?

Thinking I just left school and now we have a four-day weekend!

All my life I always said that if someone cheated on me I’d be out of there so fast. But the one time it happened (that I know of, anyway), guess who the bonehead was that believed everything he said and stuck around? Me. We were two years into the relationship and there were definite feelings involved (and a ring), and I wasn’t a strong enough person to just end things. That was 10+ years ago, and I’d like to think I’m much stronger than that now. While I do realize that some people really can change, I’m more in the “once a cheater, always a cheater” camp.

Oooo, very cool, Gia! Congratulations! My apartment here in Kazakhstan is fully furnished, and my refrigerator is burgundy-colored with rhinestones! I know it sounds hideous but I think it's kinda sassy!






OT: Trying to plan my summer so I can buy all my flights.

It's student-led conferences today, and right now I'm taking a break for some Starbucks iced coffee I had delivered.

Aw, congratulations, Crystal! That’s wonderful news! I’m so happy for you!

Have you picked out your granny name yet? What will she call you?

I was about to say something similar.

I don't think I've ever seen/heard a woman saying "I'm looking for a real man" who meant it in a way that implied she was looking for a man who didn't alter his physical appearance (egs. color his hair, get peck implants, fake tan, etc.). Nearly always she is refering to his character (saying that she wants a man who means what he says, has good character, treats his partner with respect, etc.).

That said, I kind of think that the terms "real man" or "real woman" are kind of insubstantial, as different people are looking for different things. Maybe it's better to just specify what they are looking for that they are not finding.