No women at the gym? OK it sounds obvious but you just need to get involved with things where there is female participation and not just dudes. Pottery, book clubs, hiking/biking groups, cooking groups, dance lessons, various volunteer groups, even church, etc. But it has to be stuff you're genuinely interested in regardless. Nothing will come off worse than a new guy who's clearly there just to meet women (although, women sometimes join groups to meet men also).
Let me also add, I'm a good 20 years older than you. Don't get too wired into a vision of "family" because if and when it does happen, it might not work out the way you imagine. It sure didn't for me.
Focus on being content and happy with yourself, and then worry about meeting someone.
The times have changed. Meeting your spouse in person is pretty uncommon for educated white collar workers in nyc like myself. Almost everyone I know has met their partner off a dating app in the last few years. It’s exhausting.
I’m also uniquely ugly and that’s my main issue. So, again, times are different. Huge emphasis on looks above all other features. Attraction precedes curiosity.
> I’m also uniquely ugly
All the more reason to avoid dating apps and do it the old way. Dating apps are entirely superficial at least for the initial matching.
I agree but I’d say dating app mentality has infiltrated all aspects of dating life. So many women I know have complained about apps and not wanting to use them but then they only end up meeting their serious long term partners through them. The women I run into today are extremely specific about what they will find attractive.
End of the day, women do want to be physically attracted to their partner and that’s what the apps offer immediately. It’s just something I’m going to be unable to provide and the type of woman who doesn’t emphasize appearance is hyper-rare and in extreme demand.