Remember dating? Drive in movies...long walks...just being together? You can have that feeling again! There are literally millions of seniors online these days...surfing the net, chatting, emailing, and yes, dating! Why sit on the sidelines when you can join in the fun and share it all with a special someone? 

Sound like fun? Believe me, it is! You know, being a senior citizen these days is nothing like it was in our parents' generation. Today's seniors are more active, more social, and much more apt to find love later in life.  So, how do you get started?

Well, one of the first things you'll want to do, before you ever start your search for online dating sites is to figure out exactly what you're looking for online.  Are you interested in a long term relationship?  Just a little fun?  New friends?  Casual sex?  Are you straight?  Gay?  Religious?  Do you want to stay within your own ethnic background?  These are all very important questions that you must ask yourself before you ever google senior dating sites and discover that there are literally thousands of senior dating sites.  Knowing what you want in advance will make your choices much easier, and your matches much better!

Once you've figured out what you're looking for, then you can search for exactly what you're looking for.  For example, christian dating site for senior citizens, or Jewish senior dating sites will more closely return sites matching your interests than just dating for seniors. Next, when you have found sites that interest you, click on those sites and spend a little time on their web pages. See what the membership terms are...can you join for free?  Post a free profile?  Browse for free?  How much does it cost to communicate with others on the site? What if you want to cancel?

If you can join or browse for free, then by all means, do so at several of the sites that interest you the most.  Join, browse, and yes, post your profile.  Get the feel of the community, see who is online, how communication is handled, and how you're matched up with potential dates.  And, don't be shy.  Nearly everyone else on the site is just as shy, just as nervous, and just as hesitant as you are.  Remember, you're online to have fun, and in most cases, you're anonymous, so you can be uninhibited, perhaps even a little more free with yourself!

When you post your profile, make sure it's a true profile of yourself, your interests, and yes, your most recent photograph.  After all, you want to meet someone to share your life with, don't you?  You can't reasonably expect that to happen if you don't tell the truth up front. 

Once you have the feel for the communities you've joined, and your profile is online, then it's just a matter of time before someone of like interests contacts you, or you find someone you'd like to contact.  Again, don't be timid, take that first step if you see someone you want to contact...you have absolutely nothing to lose (and everything to gain)! Wink, flirt, and chat with the people who you're most interested in, but don't give out your real name, your real email address, your phone number, or other personal information right away.  And, in the event that someone makes you uncomfortable, block them, but continue to communicate with the others who interest you.  Sooner or later, you'll find that there's at least one match, or maybe even a few, that you're interested in getting to know offline. 

When the offline stage of the relationship comes, again, take it slow.  Start with a few emails, and then a few phone calls.  Google him or her, once you have a name. (You can bet he or she is Googling you, too.)  Finally, when you're sure that you're ready, set up a coffee date at a local cafe, during daylight hours. Make sure that you let your potential date know, in advance, that you have another appointment immediately after the meeting so that, if the chemistry just isn't there, you both have an "out." 

Also, be certain that you let at least one other person know exactly where you are, who you are meeting, and what time you plan to return home, and have them check up on you if you have not called them by a certain time.  This is a normal, simple safeguard that you should take anytime you go on a "first date," and not just with an online date, but with any first date. (Continue to put these kinds of safeguards in place for every date until you have had ample time to meet, know, and get completely comfortable with the other person. And, if you feel the least bit uncomfortable, don't hesitate to cut the date short, and leave.) Precautions aside, after several dates, sooner or later, you'll hit the right match, and you'll click with someone, and you'll know where to go from there!  So, go on, get out there and date.