After 2 – nearly 3 – years of adulthood, and only recently starting to join the dating scene, it has been interesting to me to see the dynamics of dating, especially in Cornwall.
I have been trying to find that special someone for a good while now, and while I know that I am still very young, it has been one hell of a ride emotionally.
Living in Cornwall, you expect the obvious shop shortage, big and countless fields and the beautiful sea, but what you don’t expect is the shortage of people.
Cornwall might not be as densely populated as Plymouth, Bristol or Exeter but there are quite a lot of people hanging about living their lives here.
Because of the universities and colleges scattered about there are a number of young people still here, Cornwall isn’t just reserved for the older generation, and because of this county’s charm many people want to stay here.
So that brings me to my question – Why is no one dating in Cornwall?
With the heavy usage of dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, it would seem as if there are people looking for long term relationships, or so it would seem.
After scrolling and swiping aimlessly through those dating apps, many people who present themselves on there only seem to be looking for ‘short-term’ or ‘casual’ relationships.
Could that be due to only living in Cornwall temporarily, or is there another reason at hand?
After 3 years at university, I have only been on one official date, and its reasoning was not the lack of ability or not wanting to, but the fact that many people won’t plan any dates and skip ahead to hanging out at each other’s houses.
It seems that a lot of people do not want to go out for food, or drinks, or activities as dates anymore.
From conversing with my peers, it seems that even if the dates are scheduled, they either get cancelled last minute for a variety of different reasons and excuses, OR, the dates remain as a one-time only event.
However, in most cases it doesn’t only rely on compatibility.
I have heard many stories of dates that went very well from both party’s viewpoint, and yet the dates never progressed from there even though both people involved were looking for the same things (or so they say)
Either the dates never progressed, or it only remained as just that, dates.
Many of my friends and peers have told me about their experiences of ‘dating’ individuals for months at a time, seemingly looking for ‘long-term’ relationships, and yet after countless dates and lots of time spent together, it seemed that one of the people involved would pull out deeming themselves ‘not ready’ for something serious.
This has caused a lot of emotional and mental damage on people, the long but short term ‘fun’, making it feel impossible and draining to continue within their dating journey.
With the rise of dating apps, it also seems impossible to meet someone ‘organically’, in a café or bookshop or even approaching someone in passing and asking them out.
There has been a stigma when it comes to expressing interest within someone in real life, however, expressing interest for the right reasons is a much different approach than, for example, catcalling someone in the street.
Falmouth is an eventful town, with many things going round the whole year, socialising being a part of the town’s culture, and yet it is more than difficult to find someone who either is looking for the same thing or is willing to commit to something meaningful.
But there is hope, and people continue to try their hardest in meeting someone for them, as difficult as it may seem and is.