My divorce was final last month. Today I had my first "date" in 25+ years. I kept it low-key: coffee in a nice but plain coffee shop. I met her on an app. She was pretty, very much my 'type,' and looked nice. It was a good, low-pressure meet-up. We talked for almost two hours.

I know a lot of guys in here will say this is too soon and "work on yourself," but for me this is working on myself: I need to re-learn how to be social with women who are available and get my social anxieties in check. The rest of me is good. I have no expectations other than becoming a better dater. She'd like to see me again, so I did OK for a first outing.

I have another date set for Friday with another woman, a girlfriend from my high school days. We've been lightly flirting by text for a couple of months -- we coincidentally came back in touch with each other just days after my ex asked for a divorce. Due to holiday schedules, this week is the first time we both have a free evening.

I never dated casually in the before times. It's extremely weird to now have 2 dates within a few days of each other. I give each of these a low percentage chance of getting serious -- I suspect that political differences will emerge and become a deal-breaker for one or both of them -- but it would be just my rotten luck to have both of them turn into "serious" contenders and find myself in a whole new unpleasant situation.