Still trying to wrap my mind around yesterday’s “date” with, let’s just call her “Jane”, for now. I have known Jane from being a customer to her food supply business for a year or so now I guess. But that was all done online, and on the days she delivered, I was usually out hiking. So, I’d only seen her a couple of times. Pretty as a Filipina though, you might say. Chatted a couple of times, Facebook friends, and that was really all there was up until now. Well, she had tried to set me up with one of her friends previously, but I declined. Not really comfortable with that kind of arrangement. Jane doesn’t live in Barretto, but she will occasionally come here for some drinks. She’s invited me to join her on occasion, but I never did. Then this past Friday, she asked if I wanted to get together at It Doesn’t Matter, and I agreed. We had a couple of drinks, some light conversation, then she headed on home.

I figured that was that, but Jane messaged me about getting together again for lunch on Tuesday. I said, sure, and we agreed to meet at Blue Rock on Baloy Beach. She got there early because she had some work stuff to do online and her internet at home was down. She was still working when I arrived, so I had a drink and waited. And waited. About thirty minutes later she put the laptop away and we ordered some food (shrimp for her, chicken breast for me). And then we set about getting to know one another better.

The first thing I wanted to get some clarity on was her marital status. From what I’d seen on Facebook I was under the impression Jane had a husband. No, she assured me, she has never been married. That was actually a relief. Yeah, she is in some kind of weird relationship with a foreigner, the father of her two children, but being with her at least wouldn’t be a criminal act (adultery is illegal in the Philippines). I told her my convoluted tale of failed marriages and relationships, and she seemed more understanding than judgmental. So, in that sense, we were off to a good start. In fact, it might be that we have more in common in that regard than most women I meet.

Jane surprised me by revealing when she had first seen me. October 31, 2019, at the Halloween party at Queen Victoria bar.

Anyway, Jane said she had been there in a sexy black dress and she noticed me because I kept staring at her. I had a date and she didn’t, so eventually she left. When she saw me the first time making a food delivery she remembered me from that night. I have no recollection of those events, but that’s not surprising. It doesn’t sound out of character for me though.

It was a very nice lunch date and by the time we said our goodbyes I realized that in many ways Jane ticks all the boxes. She’s smart, probably the smartest gal I’ve met since moving here. She’s pretty (but aren’t they all?). Enjoys sharing a drink or two. And she is comfortable and confident in her sexuality. What’s not to like? I won’t go so far as to say something silly like we are “soul mates” at this point, but, it definitely feels like there is a connection on a deeper level than I usually experience.

So, we’ll see where this goes. No expectations for anything more than whatever it is that we already have, but at least she is not needy or in it for the money. She drives an almost new car and has a job in real estate in addition to her food business. I honestly don’t know what it is that she sees in me. It should be interesting to find out.

In other news, Facebook reminds me that it was eleven years ago today that I announced my decision to postpone my retirement. Originally, I would have hung it up in October 2010 and moved to the Philippines. Instead, I decided to pursue a relationship with Jee Yeun. That road wound up taking me to a pretty dark place, but all these years later, here I am where I originally planned to be.

I’m not sure I have a clue about what I’m doing, but I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.

What a life!