I know others who have actually met on flights and have later gotten married.

Since arrival times at airports have been extended for security purposes, travelers are finding themselves with a lot of spare time while waiting for their flight.

With all of this time on your hands, why wait until you board the plane to flirt with that cute girl or guy who might be going to the same destination as yourself?

Meeting at the airport.

A new niche online dating site, MeetAtTheAirport.com, has recently launched to help you with your romantic journey.

How it works is you sign up for a free account and let other passengers know your itinerary. You’ll have an opportunity to search for others traveling at the same time or for those who will be hanging their hats at the airport going to another destination.

Once you’re at the airport, you can check into the site. Voila, you can head over to the airport watering hole or possibly meet in an airport lounge.

Other fun ways to put on your digital hat at the airport:

Check in on Foursquare while waiting for your flight. This location-based app wasn’t designed for dating, but you might just notice someone in your network at the airport at the same time.

While you’re in flirting mode, log into your favorite mobile dating app. Many of these apps, including OkCupid, Crazy Blind Date, MeetMoi and Badoo, will let you see who’s near by so you can strike up a conversation.

“With these digital tools at your fingertips,

you can make traveling more fun.”

Not a big user of mobile dating apps?

No problem. Head over to Facebook, where you can check into Facebook Places to let your friends know you’re at the airport and where you’re headed.

Wouldn’t it be great to find out someone who’s had a secret crush on you is at the airport as well?

Think you might want to give someone your card without revealing too much? For this, you’ll need to plan ahead.

For the cost of $25, you can purchase a deck of flirting calling cards to drop in his or her lap. The recipient will need to log into a website to respond if they’re interested.

FlipMe cards have cute sayings such as, “Consider this a wink and a smile” and “Don’t look now, but you’re being watched.”

Another great set of flirting cards can be found at Cheekd.com. Their sayings include, “I couldn’t find a napkin” and “I need a date for my sister’s wedding.” It’s digital flirting at it’s best.

A last resort.

If you didn’t have the courage to give out your name and phone number to someone you met on a plane or at the airport, you can always go to Craigslist and write a post under Missed Connections.

Hopefully your crush will also regret not getting your number and will look for you there. Then you can go ahead and send that flirty text.

With all of these digital tools at your fingertips, you can make traveling more fun. Who knows? By the time you land at your destination, you just might have a dinner date on the calendar.

Have you ever flirted with anyone at an airport while waiting for a flight?

Photo source: webstockpro.com.

After a long dry spell of being on the solo circuit, or even experiencing a series of recurring dating disappointments, the frustration can ultimately balloon into a sense of defeat and jadedness if not careful.

The gay bar has been a traditional place where gay men have been able to meet each other.

Thankfully, with the growing acceptance of the LGBT community, meeting places have generalized to areas of more visibility as our access to each other has increased.

And that’s a wonderful thing, especially since the gay bar isn’t always the most successful venue to meet a true dating prospect.

It can happen, but it’s more difficult because of the unknown variables about the men in this establishment, not to mention the sexualized and “cruising” atmosphere can sometimes be an interference.

Sufficient self-knowledge.

The key to meeting a compatible partner is to align yourself with venues where there will be a greater probability the men in that context share similar interests and values.

This is why it’s essential in dating to have sufficient self-knowledge and take a personal inventory of who you are and what you stand for.

This means taking stock of your value system, as well as what your personal requirements are for a partner and a relationship.

Without this awareness, dating becomes a random, directionless activity that rarely yields positive results unless one is lucky.

“It’s essential you assert yourself and

become proactive in the moment.”

Choosing venues with like-minded men.

Armed with this information, you can now position yourself in situations and environments where other like-minded men will congregate.

Your odds for meeting someone compatible have now tripled, unlike a bar where you have no idea about any of these guys’ backgrounds or intentions.

For example, if personal growth and spirituality are key values for you, perhaps going to a gay retreat or conference devoted to these topics would surround you with similar men.

Or if you’re big into politics, volunteer for your favorite candidate so you can become involved with others who share this same passion.

Personal ads are good starting places to screen out some of these variables when assessing dating profiles, though it is more time consuming to reach the recognition of alignment.

The point is the more compatible the venue is with your interests, values, purpose and mission in life, the greater the odds you’ll meet a love match than mixing and mingling in a public place or a bar.

It can still happen, but it requires a lot more energy with a much lower return of investment.

Events and volunteering.

If you find it difficult to position yourself in your desired venues, I’ve found looking through gay publications that advertise community events or volunteer opportunities to be helpful.

Meetup.com is also an excellent resource for searching for like-minded groups of people.

If you don’t see any groups that match your needs, you can start your own group and begin attracting a compatible crowd!

Additionally, while it’s important to place yourself in the right context, this is only half of the solution.

Being in the right place will only serve you if you take advantage of the opportunity.

This means it’s essential you assert yourself, talk to the other guys and become proactive in the moment. Get involved and avoid passivity.

Your Mr. Right could be within your vicinity and you don’t want to lose the chance of making a connection!

What are some of the venues and meeting places you’ve found helpful for meeting quality gay guys and compatible dating partners? Do share!

Photo source: obu.edu.

The study ultimately questions whether the particular structures offered by online dating sites create more opportunities or more problems for potential daters.

Researchers note several online dating sites offer matching algorithms to help pair compatible individuals, but researchers found little evidence to suggest matching algorithms actually predict compatibility.

“Researchers found little evidence to suggest

matching algorithms predict compatibility.”

Researchers said online dating places an emphasis on browsing matches, which puts superficial traits front and center and reduces a user’s desire to commit to one person.

While online communication can create an intimate connection between two strangers, the study argues online communication can cause unrealistic expectations real-life encounters cannot compete with.

The study’s authors note all of the above factors will likely improve as online dating develops further.

However, they ultimately conclude while online dating offers a unique matchmaking opportunity, it may not offer a superior opportunity compared with traditional real-world situations.

Source: SagePub.com. Photo source: cdn.turner.com.

I am an attractive, fit and fun-loving 63-year-old female. I am tired of going to Internet dating sites and singles events because the men you meet have lots of baggage and are not interested in any kind of long-term relationship.

Is there any other way to meet decent men?

-Melody (Missouri)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Dear Melody,

Gentle newsflash: Any person who is in their 50s or 60s comes with a lifetime of emotional “baggage.”

But baggage can also mean the tender emotional dings of love and loss, and building a relationship with them means having compassion for their life experiences.

As for where to meet men in the real world, I always say do what you like and you’ll find them there.

Whether it’s gardening, wine tasting, volunteer work or business, when you do what you like, you’ll meet liked-minded people who can share your interests.

Build the life you dream about and a mate will meet you there.

No counseling or psychotherapy advice: The Site does not provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by consumers in search of general information of interest pertaining to problems people may face as individuals and in relationships and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.

I re-entered the world of dating after being divorced almost four years. I find myself in an awkward category: 59 years old, mental health administrator, very young looking and high energy level, an 11-year-old son who spends increasing amounts of time with his father.

A few gentlemen who I felt were interested backed away upon reflecting they did not wish to be involved with a woman whose children were not grown.

I have had very few actual dates. I don’t seem to be getting past emails or some phone calls.

Where are the men of high caliber, who genuinely want to meet a good woman, date one woman at a time and nurture a relationship and see where it leads?

-Lydia (New York)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Dear Lydia,

I’ll tell you one thing: Those men are few and far between. But they are out there.

More important than where are they is the question of where are you?

With a young son, are you really ready to get cozy in some blended family?

If so, then you need to limit your search to men who are fathers, men who understand your commitment to your family.

Although with this caveat that your son is spending more time with his father, I wonder what that says about your bond with your son.

Bonding with children actually helps us be more equipped to bond with a lover.

Next, I ask you to re-evaluate your self-worth.

I don’t know about you, but when I read your laundry list description, I felt like you categorized yourself as old, boring and matronly. (With an obligatory, youthful energetic side).

Why not think about your amazing personality traits a guy might be interested in? Are you compassionate? Loving? Funny? Talented?

When you truly love yourself and feel genuinely proud of yourself, men will like that.

This might be the day to write a love letter to yourself and remind yourself of why you are so lovable. Because you are.

No counseling or psychotherapy advice: The Site does not provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by consumers in search of general information of interest pertaining to problems people may face as individuals and in relationships and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.

These experts are all about giving women the tools they need to be smart, confident and successful in their everyday lives as well as their romantic relationships.

Dr. Wendy Walshdrwendywalsh.com

Bragging Rights: No-holds-barred attitude

As the resident expert for DatingAdvice.com and “America’s thought leader on relationships,” Dr. Wendy Walsh approaches dating advice with a no-holds-barred attitude. She breaks down the psychology of sex, love, gender roles, divorce, parenting and other human behaviors. No topic is taboo for this Ph.D.-wielding author of “The 30-Day Love Detox.”

Social Clout: 5,200 followers, 2,381 likes

URL: http://drwendywalsh.com/

Evan Marc Katzevanmarckatz.com

Bragging Rights: Helps women understand men

Billed as a “personal trainer for smart, strong, successful women,” Evan Marc Katz has been helping singles find love since 2003. Katz helps women understand men through his 12-Week Commitment Course, products, group coaching and one-on-one advice. Scared of commitment? Sign up for Katz’s free newsletter and he’ll send you his e-book, “5 Massive Mistakes.”

Social Clout:  6,298 followers, 3,627 likes

URL: http://evanmarckatz.com/

Patti Stangerpattistanger.sheknows.com

Bragging Rights: The Millionaire Matchmaker

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, you’ve most likely heard of Patti Stanger, aka The Millionaire Matchmaker. A third generation matchmaker, Stanger founded the Millionaire’s Club in January of 2000 and has worked with thousands of clients, including celebrities, professional athletes, Fortune 500 business moguls and the “guy next door.”

Social Clout:  379,423 followers, 212,000 likes

URL: http://pattistanger.sheknows.com/

April Beyeraprilbeyer.com

Bragging Rights: Empowering women

As the host and expert matchmaker for VH1′s “Making Mr. Right,” Beyer works to empower women to challenge conventional dating advice. A down-to-earth dating consultant, relationship coach and matchmaker, Beyer gives women an intimate look into the hearts and minds of marriage-minded men by teaching women how to date, flirt and communicate.

Social Clout: 829 followers, 2,016 likes

URL: http://aprilbeyer.com/

Dr. Laura Bermandrlauraberman.com

Bragging Rights: The real deal

A world-renowned sex and relationship educator with more than 20 years experience, Dr. Laura Berman isn’t afraid to get to the nitty-gritty and (sometimes) embarrassing stuff like “toe-curling orgasms” and “are strap-ons your style?” Dr. Berman is the host of Oprah Winfrey Network’s “In The Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman.” In short, Dr. Berman is the real deal.

Social Clout: 41,776 followers, 14,643 likes

URL: http://drlauraberman.com/

Amy Laurentamylaurent.com

Bragging Rights: One of your girlfriends

With an 88 percent success rate in finding clients a serious relationship within the first three months, Amy Laurent is a multifaceted matchmaker with a hands-on approach. She’s also on the cast of Bravo’s “Miss Advised.” If you’re looking for a relationship expert who will keep your head on straight and talk to you like you’re one of her girlfriends, then look no further than Laurent.

Social Clout: 7,172 followers, 607 likes

URL: http://amylaurent.com/

Simone Biennesimonebienne.com

Bragging Rights: Advice powerhouse

Simone Bienne helps women reach their full potential in life, love and sex and often uses celebrity relationships to relate to our own love lives. Bienne has been dubbed “The Marriage Saver” and “The Mary Poppins of Sex” and became the first female co-host of Loveline with Dr. Drew. Bienne is a licensed psychosexual and relationship therapist with credits including Fox TV, NBC and CNN.

Social Clout: 36,361 followers, 2,468 likes

URL: http://simonebienne.com/

Marni Battistadatingwithdignity.com

Bragging Rights: Humorous and supportive

As founder of Dating with Dignity, Marni Battista is a life coach who is humorous, supportive and never shy to point out the little things women do that could be driving men away. Check out Battista’s “Manimals” section where she describes the different categories of men, including Mr. Elusive, The Hunter, Mr. Quality Casual and The Cry Baby.

Social Clout: 2,327 followers, 1,451 likes

URL: http://datingwithdignity.com/

Tracey Steinbergtraceysteinberg.com

Bragging Rights: A hodgepodge of coaching services

Tracey Steinberg is the “Dateologist.” A coach and flirting expert, Steinberg hosts her own call-in live television show in New York City called “Dating Help 911!” She offers a hodgepodge of coaching services, including one-on-one dating, expert emergency help sessions, dating and relationship classes and flirting parties.

Social Clout:  278 followers, 153 likes

URL: http://traceysteinberg.com/

Suzie A.singledatingdiva.com

Bragging Rights: Perky and sincere

As founder of Single Dating Diva, a “blog dedicated to single and dating people everywhere,” Suzie is an award-winning writer who utilizes catchy headlines and subjects to share the lessons she’s learned along the way. Perky, sincere and open, Suzie will make you re-evaluate how you’re living your life.

Social Clout:  3,273 followers, 238 likes

URL: http://singledatingdiva.com/

Featured photo source: spectacledmarketer.com.

I can’t seem to get over this guy I met. We dated for two months last year and it was very intense. He inserted himself into every aspect of my life, visiting on weekends, calling every night and telling his mother about me.

Toward the end of the two months, he seemed to change and would sometimes become bitter and sarcastic with me. I also know he had recently increased his dosage of anti-depressants and would sometimes drink with them. The good side of him was great and I still miss him.

How do I feel happy again or meet someone who really excites me?

-Tom (Oregon)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Dear Tom:

It sounds like you are best to be rid of this manic guy who moved too fast, ignored boundaries and put on an “intense” show for you.

I’m glad you saw a piece of his dark side, too. It sounds like this dude has a personality disorder.

But enough about him. Let me ask you why you found this soooo attractive.

Love isn’t supposed to be an intense. It is supposed to feel warm, safe and protective. No one can keep up the energy that this guy did for very long.

It sounds like you are more attracted to the intensity than the intimacy. And it’s intimacy that makes for healthy relationships.

No counseling or psychotherapy advice: The Site does not provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by consumers in search of general information of interest pertaining to problems people may face as individuals and in relationships and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.

Were you surrounded with people at a house party? In a bar drunkenly eying up some man candy? Or at home with a television, watching the old faithful countdown to the New Year?

So what are your New Year’s resolutions? The old cliches? Lose weight, use that gym membership, further yourself in career or education?

Maybe at the top of that list is to find love, maybe even a relationship. Is that wise?

Can you make finding love a New Year’s resolution?

You can certainly make meeting new people a resolution. You can decide to launch yourself on the dating scene (with more success), but finding Mr. Right puts a lot of pressure on any future partner.

One reason so many new relationships falter is the expectation put on prospective partners to be the perfect boyfriend.

Everyone adapts slightly when entering a new relationship. This is natural, but completely changing beyond all recognition from your core beliefs and values is a recipe for disaster.

“Dating is a process that involves

opening yourself up to possibilities.”

This can happen in two ways:

Firstly, you meet a really nice guy who seems interested in you. He does and says a few things you don’t agree with or that will challenge your values.

It is natural for you to re-consider your position on certain things, but if you just agree with him to make him happy, and this makes you feel less like you, it is bad.

One recent dating client of mine met a lovely guy who adored the party scene. My client really didn’t like it, but he pretended he did.

He attended all the parties, and at first he managed to pretend he enjoyed them to make his partner happy.

This created a false belief in his boyfriend that everything was good with the relationship.

After one party too many, my client finally came clean and said he didn’t enjoy them and didn’t want to go to anymore.

This put a lot of strain on the relationship, as his partner felt their relationship up to that point had been based on an untruth.

The second problem is when you convince yourself the person you are dating is someone different than who they actually are.

When you meet someone you really like, you can decide to only see certain behaviors (and ignore others) and construct a false belief they are a certain “type” of person.

You delude yourself that this person fits a “cookie cutter” ideal and ignore all the behavior that runs counter to that belief.

Inevitably the pressure will build up until something breaks.

So how to find love?

Is it possible? Yes, anyone and everyone can find love, but it’s not an event that can be planned or organized.

Dating is a process that involves meeting new people and opening yourself up to possibilities outside the “cookie cutter” fantasy of an ideal partner.

You can increase your chances of making a connection by being honest with yourself and with the people you are meeting. Be yourself because you don’t need to be anybody else.

Photo source: bp.blogspot.com

And while we might even go as far as proclaiming this will be the year we’ll be able to say goodbye to that single status in exchange for a new boyfriend, often times we tend to be very vague in terms of how we’ll actually go about achieving these desired goals.

Crafting a dating vision.

2013 could be the year your dreams of becoming partnered with your Mr. Right come true, and this outcome could be greatly enhanced by crafting a dating vision.

While this may sound boring and dry, many businesses claim they found ultimate success with the aid of creating mission and vision statements.

So why not borrow this tried-and-true element from the business world and apply it to your personal life as a single man wanting to improve his dating life?

Vision helps us with establishing goals and keeping us accountable and centered on a path toward accomplishing an end result of our liking.

If more energy was spent honing a vision and creating a “Dating Action Plan,” then maybe dating wouldn’t seem as elusive and mysterious.

This vision will help give us a sense of direction with the concrete action steps we implement that become the path toward success.

This gives us more of a feeling of control over our own destiny, rather than taking a passive approach to dating that rarely yields results.

Step 1.

The first step in creating your own dating vision is to identify what you ultimately want.

Do you really want a boyfriend? If so, why? Are you ready for the responsibilities of a relationship, or are you looking for more casual involvements?

It’s important to get extremely clear on what you would define as the end goal, lest you become vulnerable to getting side-tracked and sabotage yourself along the way.

“Make sure you know what your personal

requirements are for a partner.”

Step 2.

Next, it’s important to conduct a thorough self-assessment on what you bring to the table as a dating prospect.

Are you Mr. Right? Would you date you? Are you a “good catch”?

Before any actual dating occurs, lots of preparation and personal growth work is usually needed in order to enhance the prognosis for relationship success.

After identifying your strengths and weaknesses, begin a program of self-improvement to get yourself in the most optimal level of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness you can.

Step 3.

It’s also crucial to make sure you know what your personal requirements are for a partner and a relationship and to make a commitment to live by these values.

Identify those expectations and values now as these become the guideposts to our behavior and in the decisions we ultimately make.

Where will you meet qualified dating prospects? What specific action steps can you take to achieve the potential of which you are setting here?

How will you know when you’ve reached it? What will it look like, feel like and be like?

How will you know if you’re self-sabotaging in any way, and what strategies will you implement to counteract these immediately if they occur?

These are all vital questions you’ll want to ask yourself in defining your vision.

Write it out.

If it helps to write out an official vision or mission statement like the bigwigs in corporate America do, this might help with keeping you grounded and focused.

Often times, I’ll have my clients create a collage that depicts their vision and post the finished art project in a space of their homes they’ll see every day.

They can build in accountability by asking themselves, “What’s one thing I did today that has moved me one step closer to achieving this particular goal?”

While this simple exercise won’t magically drop a new boyfriend in your lap, it does place the control and responsibility for your getting what you want more squarely on your shoulders.

Rather than “winging it” out in the dating world, which rarely works out, defining your vision can help provide you with some structure and focus that can only serve to increase the odds in your favor.

So here’s to 2013 being YOUR year! Make it happen! Cheers!

Photo source: zcache.com

Senior people over 50 will also often take their daily exercise walk at the mall, doing what is termed as “mall walking” when the weather outside is inclimate, whether it’s rain, sleet, snow or extreme heat. And, at some point, they will migrate over to the food court area to relax, unwind and grab a beverage or bite to eat. That’s when you can meet them!

Wherever there is already a crowd means you increase your chances of meeting new people, some of whom just might be some other senior singles. This is leveraging what is known in the influence and persuasion fields as The Law of Large Numbers. Simply put for you and me, it’ just easier to meet people where there are already a lot of people!

When should you go sit in the food court?

Since you are aiming to take advantage of The Law of Large Numbers, you want to go sit when you’re expecting a crowd of people during the major meal times.

Guys, for you, more women are eating their meals at noon and later. Ladies, guys are often eating their meals a bit earlier than you and your girlfriends eat, especially the blue-collar men. They have been up and at work since as early as 5:30 a.m., so they are looking to get some lunch as early as 10:30 or 11 a.m.

Now, you don’t have to go to the food court every day at 10:30 a.m. However, just venture over there once or twice during your week to see who shows up that early. If there are some potential mate men there, then you know you want to start taking your lunch early. Get your food at the same restaurant where they are and go sit by them!

“Being prepared with something

to say is half the battle.”

Where is a good idea to sit to invite social interaction?

Be sure to go sit in the food court open area. Look around for both crowds of people of any age who are already sitting there (and sit by them!) as well as some good empty spots. This gives you options each time you go.

Where there is already a crowd, it is so easy to break the ice with those around you. If you are companionably chatting with the folks at the table next to you in their 30s, then when someone over 50 or so sits down, it is perfectly natural to just continue the conversation flow and loop them into the light holiday banter.

Where there is plenty of seating, you can ask anyone already seated in the area, “Oh, are you saving these seats for anyone?” This gives you your conversation ice breaker. They might even think it is a silly question because it must be so obvious the seats are open. Who cares?

Being prepared with something, anything polite really, to say is half the battle when it comes to meeting people or not.

Now you know where to meet quality senior singles, as well as when to go, where to sit and how to break the ice. So tell me, where are going for lunch today?