Match.com, which has been established since 1995, is one of the most popular online dating sites for people looking for long-term relationships. You can browse profiles for free, but you’ll need to upgrade to engage with them (a paid membership). You can meet other singles in person or in a group setting at Match events in your region every week, in addition to exchanging emails and instant messaging with your love interest.

There are plenty of fantastic people for mature singles to choose from; however, you must know where to seek. You already know that bars are a horrible location to meet someone serious about finding a life partner (after all, they’re usually packed with twenty-somethings who think you’re an antique). You may have exhausted your options with your local religious institution or singles organization.

Still, don’t fret. Here are my favorite locations and some tactics to help you do well once you get there.

Meet Online

You can’t beat online dating websites for sheer numbers of eligible, interested people. I know some of you have had horrible luck, but based on what your fellow singletons have told me, the good times outnumber the bad.

Learn how online dating works to improve your chances of success. Pay attention to the person’s writing; serious people tend to write a lot about themselves and what they want. Be open and honest about who you are, how you would be perceived, and the type of person who would enjoy your company. You must also remain open, warm, and adaptable. Don’t utilize a large, complicated list of criteria that will reduce your options to only four people on the earth. Instead, focus on your most important characteristics.

You can go to a boutique online dating site that only accepts people who are serious about finding a relationship and are willing to pay a premium to do it. You’ve certainly heard of some of the more well-known ones, but there are smaller, more focused sites that you may not have heard of.

The following are some examples of speciality websites:

• For horse lovers, EquestrianSingles.com
• For pet owners, DateMyPet.com
• For wine lovers, WineLoversMatch.com
• For older men and women, SeniorPeopleMeet.com or BabyBoomerPeopleMeet.com

If having a common political perspective is important to you, there are dating sites that cater to your political beliefs. Most of the larger sites welcome gays and lesbians, but specialist sites like GaySinglesOnline.com exist as well. Whatever your interests are, or whatever your needs are, there is a website that will meet them.

Meet at Small, Special Events

People hold activities all over the place to attract older singles. These provide you the chance to meet people who have similar interests to you.

I recently attended a couple of Read Dating events sponsored by my local library system and PerfectMatch.com, where I work as a relationship counsellor. One of the meetings drew a small crowd, but the other drew almost 100 individuals. That one seemed to go off without a hitch. People sat at tables arranged according to their preferred book or genre. Many of the persons there piqued my curiosity.

Attend a local restaurant’s tiny blues or jazz night. I did it lately and saw quite a few individuals in their fifties and sixties. Several singles partnered up and danced in the environment, which included a wonderful crowd, food, drinks, and music.

Join an outdoor sporting club if the weather permits. Sailing clubs often have more male members than female ones, and they frequently organize informal dinners after races where individuals may mingle and trade stories. Consider golf, hiking, mountaineering, skiing, or softball if sailing isn’t your thing. Singles clubs in several cities organize a variety of activities, ranging from a night at the opera to sports championships. Last year, I spoke at one of these clubs, and the majority of the attendees were in their forties and fifties.

Meet Women at Spas

If you’re a male looking for a woman, visit a spa. Several times a year, I give a talk at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico. The place is packed with lovely women, the majority of whom are in their forties. Let me tell you, the few men who show up have a lot of options. I’m not sure why more senior men aren’t taking advantage of spas; they’re fantastic possibilities for singles.

You have a fantastic chance to become close with ladies if you spend out with them informally and get to know them in classes and over group dinners. You’d be able to make a smoother transition to dating as a result of that experience.

Meet at a Volunteer Gig

Volunteer at a children’s hospital, an environmental cleanup, a Habitat for Humanity construction, or a political campaign if you’re seeking for someone with a large heart. Of course, not everyone will be single, but many singles frequently attend specifically advertised gatherings.

If you don’t get to know someone the first couple of times you volunteer, try a different outlet for your energies and see which one works best. You’re doing fantastic work; it’s fine if you do it in a few different locations to meet new people.