The single tax is alive and well, and it’s only getting worse — I live in an area of the country that has seen an overwhelming swell in housing prices since the beginning of the pandemic. Rent followed suit. It’s flat-out weird but completely understandable. We are inundated with people fleeing Southern California in search of lower-cost housing in a still desirable location…

Emotions and feelings are one thing. Data are another. — It’s officially been four years since my marriage ended. Four years that consisted of almost 50 first dates. Maybe a dozen of those resulted in second dates. That dozen garnered an unhealthy on-again-off-again relationship, an early pandemic boyfriend, and the relationship that broke the camel’s back. If you had asked…

This is where real work needs to be done and we need to pay attention. — When the SCOTUS opinion was leaked, a male friend asked me what the decision would actually mean. There are logistics involved and he was very honest in admitting he didn’t know what those are. I am certain he is not alone. …

Understanding dating rules vs. boundaries could have saved me some heartache. — For quite some time I have held two main thoughts regarding dating. The first is that the most important act of self-care you can exercise is the creating of boundaries. Second, all dating rules are absolute crap and should be avoided. Turns out I was only half right. Which half…

I have some bad news for middle-aged men. — The last man I dated was four and a half years younger than me. I’m 48. He’s 43. This is the biggest age gap I’ve experienced in which I was the older person. However, every man I have dated (meaning we saw each other for a few months) since my…

Why I do it, why they do it, what it feels like, and why I’m quitting. — I have a pattern that has emerged in my love life since I got divorced five years ago. I did not see this coming. It’s not something you do. But one day, it hits you in the cruelest way. It’s a holy shit moment. Today is my holy shit moment. …

There is a line that needs to be drawn in the sand here. — If there is one battle that has been fought in the dating arena for longer than is reasonable, it’s the struggle women have with dating the nice guy. It’s been dissected nine ways to Sunday and I think we can officially say we’ve overthought this. …

I have trained for this. Hot girls, please step aside. — Being Memorial Day Weekend, I took to the river for a paddleboard session. It makes my heart happy and excruciating Phoenix heat tolerable for about four minutes and thirty-seven seconds. I went with a group of people I had met through a Facebook group. This should already tell you the…

Why I went out in public in a crop top at 48, stretch marks and all. — One of the reasons I moved downtown was that I wanted to be able to do all the cool things I never got to do in suburbia, like walk to the farmer’s market on Saturday morning with my very large reusable tote bag. It’s a thing. When I went last…