Typical story long term marriage divorce with kids, shared custody. And dating... in the western world egads is it bad right?

Been divorced a few years. Right after the divorce was final I went to a country where I spoke the language and had a fun few days. It seemed easy to date women in that location but I was not looking for a relationship so I didn't keep in touch.

And I have had some success dating here in the west. I have dated like 30+ women, had 3, two month+ relationships and 1 year plus relationship.

It's not the lack of dating that makes dating in the first world west so insufferable. It's really the EFFORT it takes to date here in the west. I mean plenty of dates were predicated on me doing ALL the work to make a date or outing happen. All the little princesses had to do is show up.

So after my 1 year relationship ended, I decided to go farther overseas and see what it was like. planned for a multi-week visit to a country I have visited for business but not for vacation. I would live in a major city, hang out and see if dating elsewhere would be better.

The first thing that stunned me was the matches on dating apps - I mean in my area in the US I would be lucky to get a match 1 in 100 swipes. But overseas? it was like 1 in 5 or better. And these women responded actively none of the half heart-ed "hbu" "what u do" replies oh no these ladies wanted to actively communicate.

The second thing was the aggressive proactive attempts at meeting. This happened multiple times but I would casually say "Yeah I'm going to Mall X and having a coffee", Lady reply - "oh I love that mall and coffee place Y want to meet there?", not only were the ladies showing high interest, but they were also actively going out of their way to come to me!

The third thing that was drastically different was the dates themselves. I can't remember the last time I had a date when the woman would not explicitly tell me what she wanted in a potential relationship. It could be a "how much you make? what car you drive?", "my love language is Paper Benjamin's" or "I think that it's important for you to be a Communist like me" or whatever... but the number of hoops and trick questions I dealt with in western dating was a pain. Overseas? no political questions. no subtle questions about wealth. (odd right?) Granted I'm very sus of motives in dating but when a woman actually asks questions to find out personality and common interests... It is very compelling.

There are other things I noticed, and other things I loved about this particular area overseas. I had heard from people who visited claiming "if you go you won't want to come home"... I laughed at the time. But wouldn't you know it I am planning on going back very very soon.

And yes I have a new infatuation. I have no idea if this will go on long term but after a very attractive woman asks YOU out 3 times, and pays 2 of those times... you tend to think she's very interested.

Probably not going to bother with western dating in the future. I have experienced better.