I want to believe I’ve never dated/talked to any shady characters, but that’s not entirely true. Usually, I ask enough questions within the first conversation to see if a guy is legit (read: participating in solely legal activities) or not. 

One drunken time (of many) at one of the bars that bordered Jacksonville Beach, I met a guy who reminded me so much of someone I liked in New York. That was the sole reason I decided to entertain him. He spoke slowly and purposefully, and I liked that. I know he told me his name, but I wasn’t interested in speaking to him beyond the club so I didn’t remember it. 

He bought me drinks and I remember dancing with him for a few songs. After the club ended, my friends and I stopped by a food truck that sells the best philly cheesesteaks in North Florida. The truck was sold out of the philly cheesesteak so I decided to get a fat dog (a really large hot dog with mozzarella on top) instead. Dude, trying to get my number, had walked with me to the food truck and offered to pay for my fat dog. I said OK and watched him pull out a huge, neatly folded wad of cash.

“Uh, what did you say you do again?” I asked.

“I own a food truck.” He said this while laughing. I laughed too, though I’m not sure why. Maybe because we were standing in front of a food truck as he said it.

“OK.” I said.

I didn’t care what he did to support himself. I’d take his number and not call him, so him paying for a $4 hot dog wasn’t a big deal.

“You looking for a job?” he asked. 

It was such a random question. I was tipsy now. Still wobbly in my heels, but my mind was clear enough to wonder what he meant by that.

“No, I have one. Thanks,” I told him before looking back to the guy making my hot dog.

“You sure?” dude asked, looking me up and down, “Because I could put you to work.”

[photo credit: the guy pictured above (Toure) is NOT the man in the story]

Save for the rich and wealthy, I’ve dated guys all across the financial spectrum.  I tell myself not to care about what’s in a man’s pockets because it’s not my money (or the lack thereof), but at an age when you’re dating and expecting a guy to at least go half on dinner, can I really ignore a man’s pockets if they’re empty?

I had a full article written, but I’m really interested to hear your thoughts. Can you date someone who has no money? How important is it to you that the person you’re with is financially self-sufficient or stable? Lastly, do you think that him having a job means he can do things for you like pay for dates? 

sylviaandherfigtree:

we call that the STRIDE OF PRIDE around these parts

(Source: fingersandteeth, via thesexkittenconfessionals)