98 August 2009.indd - Ion AZ

dating
check
list
Mouthwash?
Check! Directions? Check! Sense of
humor? Check! Good things to remember,
but let’s review a different checklist.
The mental checklist. The one you prepare
when interviewing someone for a job or
a potential relationship. The questions
and answers you’ll want to consider when
determining if your date might lead to
something more. You don’t need all the
answers on your fi rst date, but it’s good to
have some idea of what you’re looking at
going in.
Why? There’s a time in every relationship
where you reach a crossroad. It’s that time
where you’re faced with the inevitable
something that bugs you about the person
you’re with. And that’s when you ask the
questions. What do I like? What can I
tolerate? And what is a deal breaker?
Everyone has a different checklist. Some
of the questions are universal. Some are
specifi c to your likes, dislikes, wants and
needs. To get you started here are a few
questions you might want to add to your
checklist.
IS THERE CHEMISTRY?
Not necessarily in the sack, but a steady,
fl irtatious vibe between the two of you.
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME
TOGETHER?
Do you look forward to spending time with
your date?
DO YOU WANT THE SAME THINGS
OUT OF LIFE?
Career direction, cities you want to live in,
children, and pets come to mind.
DO YOU GET ALONG IN EACH
OTHER’S SOCIAL
CIRCLE?
You don’t have to like all their friends, but
the ability to socialize without throwing
their friends off of a bridge is a good test.
IS EDUCATION IMPORTANT?
High school drop out, trade school
graduate, or doctorate from Harvard?
WHAT ARE THEIR FAMILY
RELATIONSHIPS LIKE?
You can tell a lot about what a person will
be like as a partner by watching how they
interact with their family. Pay attention.
DO OPPOSITES ATTRACT?
Sometimes opposites attract, but
sometimes an introverted person who
likes to stay home with the Tivo and an
extroverted person who’s the life of the
party, do not make a match in heaven.
IS AGE IMPORTANT?
To some it’s just a number. To others
it matters. Decide on this one early.
Someone who’s too old for you now is only
going to get older. And if you have trouble
keeping up with the young one’s now,
what’s going to happen as you get older?
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN
COMMON?
You don’t have to do everything together.
But doing what you enjoy alone gets
boring fast.
IS RELIGION IMPORTANT?
Religion can be a big issue. If you’re
Christian and your date is an Atheist it
could be a major deal breaker. It’s best to
be honest early before you fall in love and
it becomes a big issue later.
DO THEY MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD
ABOUT YOURSELF?
A partner should compliment you and lift
you up, not get you down.
ARE THEY HONEST AND
TRUSTWORTHY?
Honesty is a huge issue for most people.
Someone who starts with little white lies
(age, education, where they grew up) is
usually hiding bigger lies down the road.
DO THEY GET YOU?
Can they tell what makes you sad, what
makes you happy, what makes you laugh
– or are they clueless about who you are?
ARE YOU SEXUALLY
COMPATIBLE?
Once you make it into the bedroom, it’s
essential that you have some compatibility.
Don’t think that things will get better with
time. They usually don’t. One of the main
causes of relationship breakups is sexual
incompatibility.
ARE THEY SERIOUS ABOUT
BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP?
If you meet online, check out their profi le.
Are they looking for “the one to spend
the rest of their lives with” or “a one night
stand with no strings.” Don’t try to mold
someone into wanting what you want. It
won’t work.
Some of these checklist questions may
be essential others may not. As a basis to
start from, this is a good beginning.
Post your online
or voicemail profi le for
FREE on Megamates and
Gaymates.
Our phone dating line and online
dating website offer singles a fun,
interactive place to call, chat, and
connect. It’s free to setup and maintain a
mailbox or online account, free to record
a public message and free to browse other
caller’s profi les and messages. Call 1-888-
MEGAMATES, use FREE code 7286 or
visit us online at www.megamates.com.
© 2008 Progressive Computing LLC
84 WWW.IONAZ.COM August 2009
August 2009 WWW.IONAZ.COM 85