By Taylor Helmes, Assistant News Editor
After my first long-term relationship ended, I did what any average, single, millennial female on the rebound would do: I downloaded Tinder.
I had just moved to Orange County from Sacramento, started attending a new school, got a new job, and had a total of two friends in my new environment. To make myself feel better about downloading the not-so-cookie-cutter dating app, I told myself I was making friends and trying to expand my social circle. I wish I could say the same intentions were set by the dozen or so matches I met.
Until I met my current boyfriend, Spencer.
I am confident in saying that if it wasn’t for Tinder, I wouldn’t have met him.
After a few years at Kansas University, Spencer moved back to Long Beach where he was born and raised. He downloaded Tinder and went on a few dates before we matched. Those dates usually resulted in him calling it quits before the third date because he wasn’t able to find a connection with them.
The swipe was mutual between us, but he was the first to send a message saying, “How’s your Sunday Funday going?” After looking through his photos and social media, or lack thereof, I had to know more about him.
We planned to meet and had our first date later that week. Going into this particular date, I was unusually hopeful for a potential future with him. I was almost one-year post break-up, and in a mindset of wanting a partner to be share life experiences with– big or small.
He picked me up in his cherry-red Honda and we set out for the beach. We made it just in time to walk along the shoreline for a little while before sunset. Then we found a pizza place and had the whole restaurant to ourselves. After pizza, we found a spot that overlooked the ocean and continued to talk for hours.
Obviously, I gave him my number after the first date.
Spencer and I continued to go on a few dates. We went to museums, the Los Angeles Zoo, basketball and baseball games. We even binge-watched “Game of Thrones” within three weeks!
Unlike my previous relationships, we took things slow. And by slow I mean we waited 2 ½ months to make things official, and another two months to drop the “L-word.” Since then, we’ve continuously grown and learned new things from each other.
But that’s not to say there haven’t been fights or little bumps in the road. Miscommunication occurs, which is ironic since I emphasized in Communication Studies in community college.
Here we are, over two years later and still very much in love. But it’s not the infatuation type of love that causes you to not focus on anything else but your partner. He and I push each other to be the best versions of ourselves.
