outsourcing?

tonight i met up with some san diego friends to play our semi-monthly friendly poker game. after a busy week, i didn't much feel like going out on the town this weekend, so two mellow nights really seemed to fit the bill. there were six of us tonight, one married couple and four single people. while i adore my two single guy friends who were there, i don't think any of us are destined to date one another. i know that at least three of us are on at least one online site for meeting people. so this led me to think, is online dating a way of outsourcing your dating life for the computer to take care of? does it represent some form of laziness on our parts -- i'll go hang out with my friends and let the computer do the rest? now i'm no fan of attempting to "pick people up" out in the world -- it seldom happens, and usually when i'm out with my friends i want to be with them, not constantly scanning the room for potential. part of going out is wrapped up in the possibility of meeting new people, of course, but it seems particularly difficult and uncomfortable to meet new people while out in san diego as compared to other places i've lived. maybe it is because i'm getting a little older, maybe it is the places i go, but people here seem to rarely make eye contact let alone strike up conversations. it's a bit odd, really.

i guess in a world of outsourcing, using multiple avenues to reach a goal is probably wise. and as the lovely couple who hosted tonight's game reminded me, they met online so anything is possible. sometimes i wonder if there is more i should be doing to try to meet people, but then i think living a happy, fulfilling life is probably the best way, because then you emanate a positive energy that other people want to be around. who knows, it's all a mystery anyway.

good news for me is i won $74 tonight, so i ain't complaining.