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Dating App Experiment
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The Dating App Experiment

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The Dating App Experiment

As a single staff member of one of the Events & Adventures clubhouses, I decided to do a bit of an experiment with myself. Like a lot of people, I’m a dating app user; as a person dating in the 21st century it often feels like there aren’t many other options. As a simultaneous member of Events & Adventures, I started to compare and contrast my experiences with my online relationships and the ones I was seeing develop at Events & Adventures.

I’ve been on the classic apps like Tinder and Bumble and have tried some of the more obscure apps like Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel. They each have different layouts and specialties that make them seem like lights at the end of a tunnel filled with fellow singles. In the end, each app seems to turn out to have a similar end: possible dates and little connection.

 

The Findings

Dating apps turned the very real and emotional experience of dating into a very numb and robotic game. I’ve found myself mindlessly swiping through people without even looking at them. The sensation of matching with someone seems to create more of an endorphin boost than an actual opportunity for a true connection.

I’ll never forget when I matched with a guy and mentioned meeting up for dinner with him pretty quickly, trying to bypass the small talk and make something out of a match that seemed promising. He agreed, we set a time and location. The next morning, he was gone. He deleted our match and seeing as that was the only form of contact I had with him, there was no way of getting in touch to see what happened.

The experience stung, but a part of me accepted it because we hadn’t even met. How could I hold this guy accountable when he was only a picture on a screen?

I’ve gone on my fair share of actual dates through these apps too. I’ve even been in short-term relationships with some of the men I’ve meet. The large majority of the time the connection I thought I had with these guys online didn’t come through in person. If we did actually have something in common, there seemed to be a pressure to put a definition on whatever we had right away, which ended up scaring one of us away. When you make dating the primary focus of any activity, there’s an expectation of trust and vulnerability almost instantly. How can you put that kind of pressure on someone you barely know?

Having heard friends express similar frustrations, I know I’m not alone in my dating app woes. I even hear us wondering aloud if there is something wrong with us because of our lack of success.

 

The Solution

Having experienced Events & Adventures for the last six months, I honestly believe it’s not us but the online dating system that’s to blame. Unlike the forced nature of online dating, Events & Adventures creates an organic environment for members to have fun being themselves.

Are you filled with random facts or a board game connoisseur? You can guarantee there’s a trivia or game night coming up with Events & Adventures. More of a sports fan? Every club has at least one viewing party or pickup game on the books. Are you a whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, or adrenaline junkie—or do you want to be? Events & Adventures has you covered there, too.

And the best part? Other people are doing all of these things with you. You’ll be able to build connections with people that have similar interests and have the opportunity to see these same people on a weekly, or even daily basis, without having to plan the get togethers yourself.

All of the romantic relationships I’ve seen develop between Events & Adventures members have come out of the weeks and months they have spent together at Events & Adventures events. When people have the chance to develop friendships, those friendships turn into trust, and that trust can very easily blossom into something more substantial like commitment and love.

Our members have the chance to cultivate relationships with each other without having to worry about defining their experiences, romantic or otherwise, because that’s not what Events & Adventures is about. Our goal is to help people live a life they love, and that definition is different for everyone.

As a self-proclaimed wallflower, I’ve really had the chance to soak up all of the wonderful benefits Events & Adventures provides its members. In a world so fueled by instant gratification, Events & Adventures slows things down and gives its members the change to enjoy their lives with friends, new and old. So why keep staring at a dating app filled with what-ifs and maybes and come have some promised fun with Events and Adventures? You never know where it might lead until you give it a try!

rock climbing with Events & Adventures
Seattle

Rock Climbing with Events & Adventures Seattle

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Seattle, if you haven’t already heard, is notorious for its rain. While there certainly isn’t a torrential downpour every day of the year, you can count on about nine months of grey and hazy days with a kind of misty cocktail that permeates the air.  If this sounds like a recipe for warm slippers and Netflix-and-chill on your couch, then you won’t be surprised to hear it can be tough to stay active during the Seattle winter months! Gym life isn’t for everyone, and we sometimes struggle to find fun outdoor activities when the weather combats us. Thankfully, Events & Adventures is great at finding unusual events happening all around us, like indoor rock climbing, which get us off the couch and out the door!

Recently, the members of Events & Adventures Seattle had a blast at indoor rock climbing.

It is not as death-defying as it sounds and can be friendly to climbers of levels of experience!  To get started, we simply had to follow the colored path of hand-holds that signifies the difficulty level; for example, yellow is for beginners and blue is for expert. All the harnesses and gear were provided by our great partner REI, along with their knowledgeable and encouraging instructor!

After our success with rock climbing we decided to branch out into the unknown and try paddleboard yoga! You may have heard of hot yoga, or even yoga and beer events, but paddleboard yoga is something altogether new and exciting. Just like it sounds, you practice yoga while on a paddleboard floating on a heated pool! A yogi master will actually anchor your board in the pool before yoga begins so that people don’t float into one another.

Sometimes we Seattleites have to be creative in order to stay active, but Events & Adventures makes it so fun and easy for you; they do all the planning, you just show up and have a great time. Members are virtually guaranteed to meet tons of fun and interesting people, and you will virtually always try something new. Join the club and we will see you there!

Bald Eagle Float Trip with Events & Adventures
Seattle

Bald Eagle Float Trip with Events & Adventures

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Recently, the members of Events & Adventures Seattle got to experience an amazing event that truly showcased the natural beauty we get to enjoy and appreciate here in the Pacific Northwest!  The Events & Adventures Bald Eagle Float Trip was a wonderful opportunity to brave the elements and immerse ourselves in this picturesque natural environment.  Members of the Seattle club were tremendously excited for chance to catch our national symbol in its own world!

Bundled up in lots of layers, we trekked into the January cold and were rewarded with gorgeous views of the Skagit River Valley and the bald eagles that migrate there each winter.  They call the valley home for several months of the year after migrating south.  There is also a sanctuary in the valley that presents a safe area for both the birds and the researchers that are studying them.  It was amazing how much we learned about the bald eagle and its life in Washington, all while experiencing the native beauty of their habitat.

All the members were thrilled with our bald eagle float trip.

Though seeing a bald eagle in our area isn’t unheard of, it is great to see them in their natural environment.  We are looking forward to more fun outdoor events, especially as we begin to transition into spring.  In February, we will be hosting a volunteer tree planting, which will provide our members with a to give back a little something to that Pacific Northwest green that we all know and love so much!  The Adopt-a-Stream Foundation is partnering with Events & Adventures for a fun, rewarding experience where we can walk away with chilly fingers and warm hearts.  If you haven’t already checked out our upcoming Seattle events, be sure to do so soon and snag a seat (or a shovel!) while you can!

E&A Takes To The Skies…Skydiving With Our Seattle Club!

September 15, 2014
Events and Adventures Seattle Singles Skydiving

Events and Adventures takes to the skies! On the bucket list of so many is jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. SKYDIVING! It’s also one of the things that can be so hard to get yourself to do. Sometimes it takes gathering yourself up, getting in a group of friends and just saying “what the heck..I’m doing it” If you have never done it, it can be hard to believe just how hard it can be to step into a plane and take off knowing that the only way down now is out the door at 10,000 feet or more. You almost have to tell yourself to NOT listen to the voice in your head that is getting louder and louder saying “ WHAT ARE YOU DOING” and just think of something else … like a shopping list or what’s in your Amazon wish list or anything to keep your mind off the idea that you are soon going to be free falling out of a plane. Then once you DO actually get out of the plane it’s so amazing, and you want to get back in the plane and do it again.

Rappelling Is Definitely An Event You Want To Do In A Group

September 6, 2014
seattle singles

This last week we hiked up a hill and climbed out over a cliff and stepped over the edge. There are lots of reasons why you should go rappelling in a group, the key one is surely safety. But what I’m talking about is the huge bonding experience that you get when you participate in an adrenaline activity that has your heart pumping and some part of your mind saying “You should not be doing this”. After all it feels very odd to lean out over the edge of a cliff while only holding onto a small rope. There is a shared common rush that is something to treasure.  I can now say I have some great friends in Events and Adventures that helped me grow and get out and experience life.

Crazy Chilliwack Weekend Rafting with our Vancouver and Seattle Clubs!

July 22, 2014
Crazy Chilliwack Weekend

Ready to ramp it up Vancouver and Seattle Singles!!! Our overnight camping along the Chilliwack river was fun. Enjoying tasty meals, campfire and camaraderie was terrific . On the Chilliwack Classic , you always have the option to walk around the biggest rapids. The Chilliwack Canyon is 14 km of nonstop Mild action ( Classic ) or the Extreme rafters with its monster rapid waves for hard core rafters. So many ways to get wet and have fun. Of course we needed to camp overnight and get our party on after a hard day on the river, so why not have a Toga party?  We weren’t the only ones camping over so there was lots of milling about and great campfires all over the resort …..Nothing makes you more tolerant of a neighbors noisy party than being there.  Fun had by all on three different rafting trips.  A mild and hard core group on Saturday and another group conquered the class 4 waves on Sunday!!  Amazing as always was the Staff at Chilliwack River Rafting and of course the amazing group of members we had from both the Seattle and Vancouver Clubs

 

 

When You Live In Seattle You Have To Get Out And Enjoy The Water That Is All Around!

July 21, 2014
Seattle Singles

When you are single and live in or around Seattle you have to get out and enjoy the water that is all around here. The Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, Lake Washington and Lake Union.

We just had a couple of great on-the-water events, Kayaking in Lake Union and Sunset Sailing in Elliott Bay and into the Puget Sound. When it comes to our water adventures it was clear that not all of us had been out Kayaking or Sailing before. Which was fine because the club had set these up to allow folks that are beginners to jump in and have fun along with other that may have more experience.

While we were out Sailing we had Champagne and sandwiches and other things to nibble on and of course amazing views.

Kayaking is much more hands on.  We had a great mix of newbie’s and folks that had been out on kayaks before. It was a lot of fun and as a group we went to a nearby restaurant/bar to swap stories and mingle a bit.

Looks Like Our Seahawk’s Can’t Be Beat!

December 2, 2013
Seattle Seahawks

It’s amazing how empty the streets are in and around Seattle when the Seahawks are playing. With their great winning streak everyone wants to see them play, our club included. We will be doing Seahawks viewing parties all around town. The last one was at “The Spot off main” and there were plenty of times you could not hear the commentary when the room was roaring.

We also hiked up the Cal Magnusson trail to Pinnacle Peak. It’s one of the most popular hikes in the Enumclaw area. A one-mile long forested trail climbs 1000-vertical feet to the top of the 1800-foot geological knob. Once we got to the top, we saw outcroppings of columnar basalt, the old footings of an old fire lookout and best of all, a spectacular view of Mt Rainier and the White River valley.

You may have been exhausted after our Self defense class like most of us, but you would have came away with a number of techniques and moves. It was great to have Martial Arts experts take us though all the moves and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels a little more comfortable with what life could throw at you. Thanks Lee’s Martial Arts!

Curtis Event Manager Seattle

Have You Ever Seen A Tow Truck In The Shape Of A Huge Toe?

November 25, 2013

Did you know UPS started in Seattle in 1907? Ever wanted to walk on the “Set” of the TV show Frasier?
The Club took a fun walking tour of MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) and saw all that and some lot’s more.  We found a kickin museum that is filled with really fun stuff. Some museums are stuffy and can be boring …not this one. There was a tow truck company in Seattle that had a few trucks made up in the shape of  big foot with toes and MOHIA has one and an old model T truck from the turn of the century with the UPS logo on it. We had a fun time wondering around and got to see props from the TV show Frasier, (That was supposed to be filmed in Seattle).

We also had a big Eastside Mingle at a fun place called Earl’s. We took over a bunch of tables and booths, they were very nice to us and it was fun mingling.

Curtis Event Manager Seattle

Every wonder what it would be like to be up on the Big Stage?

November 15, 2013

I have been to shows at the Paramount Theater in Seattle and wondered what it would be like to look out from the stage into that huge theater. I’m guessing that like me most of you have never been up on that big of a stage, let alone back stage or in the dressing rooms. Well last weekend that’s just what we did. We took a tour of the Paramount and went through what seemed like every inch. Back stage, on stage, dressing rooms, high above the stage and maybe a few extra spots folks don’t normally get tours in. It was fun to see where the stars I have seen perform have walked around and hung out before and after their performance.

Also this weekend we hiked up Lime Kilm trail. We definitely lucked out on the weather. While the weekend was not always great weather wise it was nice for us. The trail takes you through what was an old mining town (I know it sounds like Scooby Doo adventure) The town is long gone but there still is bits and old parts here and there if you look for it and that was really enjoyable. I’m very glad our club hikes all year round.

Curtis Event Manager Seattle