Introductions

Washington, DC is without a doubt the center of power in the world. That intoxicating lust for power draws people of all walks of life to seek glory in its cubicles, corner offices, and congested city streets. And if you aren't a congressman, high powered lobbyist, or corner office executive, your chance at making it is a lot farther off.

DC is a rich and vibrant cultural center where there's always something going on. Everything from amazing art galleries, to concerts, to romantic coffee shops are all right at your fingertips. Parks, culture, clubbing--it's all here in abundance. So you can see why people looking for an active life and dating scene also flock to the city. Now this is where I come in.

A little background info. Previously, I had lived all my life in the suburbs of DC with a stint in Baltimore County during college. Out there, things are less pretentious but also a lot less exciting. And when you're a single guy, more specifically a single gay guy, the suburbs (and Baltimore) just aren't the place to be.

I moved to DC with the intention of getting out of the watchful eyes of the rents and getting a serious boost to my social life. So far, the promises of a blissful life in the city have eluded me. My actual ties to the city before moving here were quite limited. I had exactly three friends living here, all established and doing their own thing. Work is no help because everyone is middle-aged and lives outside the city. To top it off, the friends I have in the area who I expected would actually come visit downright refuse. (I did not realize there was such hostility towards DC from Balmerians!) So here I am, left to my own devices with a roommate I knew in high school who has very little interest in socializing.

My experience thus far with the people in DC is that they are so focused on their own ambitions that they ignore anything extraneous. Such pleasantries as simply saying "hello" to someone sharing your seat on the Metro or a ride on the elevator are often forgotten. Socially, everyone has their own clique which never has room for any new members. Unless you went to college in the city, work with people your age, or volunteer for some organization, it is very difficult to meet people and make friends, much less date.

And so I have begun an experiment to try to break into the DC social scene, carve out my own niche of friends, and of course meet someone and fall in love. I suspect there will be twists and turns along the way and many a setback but also small triumphs. I hope you will join me on this journey and enjoy the ride.