A few weeks ago we introduced you to Kevin Richberg, a 32-year-old gay man who was preparing to embark on a cross-country dating voyage in search of an adventure—and, ideally, his soul mate. We caught up with Kevin recently and asked for an update. The boy has been busy!
Twenty first dates in the last 20 days! It would stand to reason that I should completely exhausted right now, but I feel quite chipper. This adventure started in New York City on October 1, and today I’m sitting in a rundown hotel a little too close to the Pasco, Washington, train depot. I’ve had the pleasure of dating a lawyer, a doctor, a singer, a classical musician, an aspiring actor, a restaurant manager, and a guy who described his current career as “funemployment.”
No two dates have been remotely similar, but every single one has been amazing. What have I learned from serial dating? It’s completely acceptable to take a date to a shotgun range; vandalizing the side of a bridge is fun if you can get away with it; don’t have a glass of wine every half hour on your first date; and always moisturize! (Dating causes dry skin.)
What’s the craziest date I’ve been on? In Pensacola, I ate a garbage burger (ice cream, chocolate, bacon, liverwurst, sauerkraut, chilis, cheese, salsa, guacamole, ham, pineapple, hamburger patty) in front of my poor unsuspecting date. Later we went to the brand new Pensacola pride, attempted a “save the stingrays” campaign, flew a stunt kite on the beach (directly into the ground), and vandalized public property after watching an “old-man band” drink from giant brandy snifters.
There were also more traditional first-date activities: a trip to a winery, a movie, the zoo, ice skating, and watching the sun set over a cityscape. But everything was genuinely fun, and never dull. Some guys wouldn’t want to go to the Banjo Museum on a first date, or visit the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial five minutes after meeting someone. Others wouldn’t choose to get so drunk they have to ask the hotel manager which room they checked into. Serial dating is not for everyone.
One thing most of my dates had in common, though, was that they took a chance on something. And that’s my #1 recommendation to any hopeful romantics out there. Go with your gut and think outside the box. If you’re feeling really frisky, then just tear the box to shreds and burn the pieces. You can always make S’mores and hot chocolate over the burning box. A musician in Knoxville tells me that’s amazingly romantic!
Ten more dates to go …