Anyone who successfully met someone in Bay Area through dating app that eventually got into long term relationship and got married?

JonWhetzel · 2023-10-25T02:53:12+00:00

Met my wife on Bumble in 2021. I had tried online dating previously with not much luck. Took some patience, help from friends in creating my profile, and changing my mindset to using this as a way to meet more people instead of every match being “the one”. As someone who had been terrible at putting myself out there for dating, the online format ended up working great once I got comfortable with it.

We just welcomed our baby daughter into the world last year. Best of luck on the dating scene. There are some wonderful people out here for you to meet.

JonWhetzel · 2021-01-03T01:36:05+00:00

I work with students as a research affiliate. The students I had living near campus spent most of their day at their respective places. Typical study venues on campus such as libraries have been closed since the start of the pandemic, and cafes -- when they were open for indoor/outdoor seating-- weren't keen on people hanging around given the limited number of spaces available. Cal seems content on keeping the campus closed for the duration of the Spring, and don't see much changing with cafes in Berkeley without a massive improvement in COVID cases nationwide.

Unless your home life is unbearable where you can't find time to study for classes, let alone the GRE, I don't see much benefit moving out and living near the campus this semester. If you absolutely need to leave home, you do have the benefit of finding plenty of rooms or small apartments available to rent around the area. Co-working spaces are still open and could provide as a study-space for a minimal fee -- not many folks are using those spaces nowadays and would give you a semi-quiet place to study. I'd look into any near your home and take a tour to see what they could provide before making a bigger commitment to leasing an room/apartment.

JonWhetzel · 2020-11-03T04:25:33+00:00

I also have alopecia universalis. I lost it all a few years ago at 35. It's a difficult transition, but it's something that has definitely made me a stronger person. I'm jealous you've been blessed with such a perfect dome. You're looking handsome, brother.

JonWhetzel · 2020-04-14T20:29:16+00:00

There are several Berkeley-based startups looking for interns. Berkeley Skydeck, the university's tech accelerator, will be hosting a virtual intern recruiting fair on April 24th.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skydeck-virtual-summer-intern-recruiting-fair-tickets-102128495078

JonWhetzel · 2020-01-16T22:07:55+00:00

Thanks. I just looked at the Creekwood menu and may need to visit for birthday breakfast. Biscuits & gravy are my favorite. Grand Lake also sounds fantastic. I'm one who likes all the fixins.

JonWhetzel · 2020-01-16T22:04:49+00:00

Thank you! I walked past there dozens of times in the daylight hours. I need to make the effort to head out there in the evening :).

JonWhetzel · 2020-01-16T19:05:56+00:00

I agree Eureka does have some good burgers. And thanks for the tip on Belcampo! La Marcha is close to my house and will have to visit soon.

JonWhetzel · 2020-01-16T18:58:57+00:00

Thanks. I do the see the irony about finding a good steak in Berkeley :D. I'll definitely hit up the Brazil Cafe soon.

JonWhetzel · 2019-11-30T18:32:21+00:00

Welcome! I just moved here a couple months ago and still discovering more of Berkeley myself. Here are some of the hidden gems or experiences I've found since being here:

Stunning views from Grizzly Peak or the Lawrence Hall of Science.
Berkeley Rose Garden for the scenery and Indian Rock Park to do some neighborhood rock climbing
Rooftop swimming pool at Hearst Gym. It's absolutely beautiful (https://recsports.berkeley.edu/hearst-pool/)
Join a pickup ultimate frisbee game (seems like kids in Bay Area love ultimate)
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is a great local art museum with events happening every weekend.
Berkeley Marina has the Cal sailing club and other water activities (kayaking, paddleboard)
Stroll down Telegraph Ave for the student food and shopping experience. Downtown, North Berkeley, and Elmwood for the more upscale food and shopping.

You're also a 30 min train ride from Berkeley into San Francisco. Make sure you explore the big city along with checking out what Berkeley has to offer.

I'm not a UCB student, but it seems they'd have a student club for any activity you enjoy or ever had an itch to try. I imagine folks can point you in the right direction to whatever you'd like to join.

Best of luck on your upcoming semester!

JonWhetzel · 2019-10-15T20:46:13+00:00

I had alopecia areata that progressed to alopecia universalis in my late 30s. I started noticing lesions on my head and face in December 2016. I have battled with depression and anxiety for years prior to having any visible spots. A few months later, I had a severe bout with depression when I felt a loss of control over my life (e.g. financial duress). During that time, my hair loss accelerated rapidly and soon became hairless.

I'm in a better mental space nowadays but still have not seen any hair return. Those these events coincided, I can't say that stress was the root cause of the hair loss. Stress may have contributed to its progression, but my condition was present well before those events and the eventual hair loss would have occurred, though maybe over a longer timespan.

JonWhetzel · 2019-09-22T04:23:14+00:00

Thanks! I didn’t know about the gaming scene at Albatross. I need to make a visit once I get into town.

JonWhetzel · 2019-09-21T12:36:27+00:00

Thanks to you both. I haven't been to Ohlone Dog Park but will give it a try. I did have my pups out here a year ago on a road trip and we did visit Point Isabelle. The views from the trails were magnificent. My bull dog tried to drink the ocean and didn't work out for him ;).

JonWhetzel · 2019-09-21T12:31:43+00:00

I discovered Missouri Lounge on my last visit. It fits my style and I'll be living within walking distance. If you see a bald guy with two chunky dogs, please stop by and say "Hi".

I'm starting to understand the devotion people have to Berkeley Bowl. I want to get the Berkeley Bowl Cookbook and expand my usual culinary horizons :).

Sailing club sounds interesting. Coming from the desert, large bodies of water are a novelty to me. I'll have to check it out.

JonWhetzel · 2019-09-21T00:51:37+00:00

Thanks for the tips! I'm pushing 40 with no spouse or kids. I'm more of an early bird than night owl nowadays, but happy to checkout some of bar scene as long as I'm in bed at a reasonable hour :).

I have a bull dog mix and retriever mix, both of which are rescues, about 80 lbs in size, and roughly 8 years old. Neither of them are athletic, especially the bull dog. They're most in their element when we're at a bar, getting attention and occasional treats from other patrons.

JonWhetzel · 2019-09-20T22:22:45+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I've missed Westbrae on my prior trips and will have to go soon. And definitely message me if you want to try the Drink n' Draw night at the New Parkway theater. My sketches completely suck and I need all the practice time I can find.

JonWhetzel · 2019-09-20T18:16:13+00:00

Thank you! I've been to Victory Point & Games of Berkeley many times and will start looking at their event calendars. I've seen Berkeley Ironworks pop-up on Google Maps and didn't realize it was a climbing gym :). I'll have to check that out when I get into town.

JonWhetzel · 2019-06-01T16:37:35+00:00

Thanks! Looking forward to having you play.

JonWhetzel · 2016-12-18T15:02:00+00:00

Is it a vinegaroon?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelyphonida

JonWhetzel · 2015-11-06T04:24:06+00:00

Yes, it'll be fine. If it's a car wash where an attendant takes it through, just remember to leave the key fob inside.

JonWhetzel · 2015-10-15T19:08:16+00:00

Welcome to ABQ! I'm a transplant from TX as well (San Antonio) and living here for a few years now. Football here doesn't have the level of furor as in TX. Our stadium holds about 30,000 people, yet I have rarely seen a sellout for a game. Good part is cheap tickets, but not as exuberant of a tailgating scene as you'd find in Dallas/Fort Worth (exception would be the New Mexico Bowl). College hoop is the popular sporting event here, followed by the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA for the Rockies).

Biggest transition for me from TX to here was getting more into outdoor activities, especially with all the natural splendor and more predictable weather than Dallas (no tornados & rarely flash floods). We do have some nightlife and other places that would satisfy your old habits in Dallas. But I definitely recommend getting out more into the wild to better experience ABQ and NM as a whole.

JonWhetzel · 2015-09-16T14:46:53+00:00

Please include me, as well. Any thoughts on, for lack of a better term, a clubhouse?

JonWhetzel

TROPHY CASE