Generosity key for any real connection

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/02/2022 (1623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My girlfriend didn’t get me anything for Valentine’s Day. Once again, she sat back and let me give her a big bouquet of red roses, and she gave me squat. This time I asked her if she had any gift for me, and she laughed in my face. She said she’s “an old-fashioned girl” and it’s her place to receive a Valentine’s gift from a man, not exchange gifts like at Christmas. Is she right?

— Turned Off, Windsor Park

Dear Turned Off: The worst pairing is a generous gift-giver with an entitled gift-taker. You might consider looking for a new love in 2022, who’s a bit more into give-and-take. Many women enjoy giving their guys a sweet token of their affection on different occasions including Valentine’s Day.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I have a suggestion for Nowhere To Go, the woman who retired early to go travelling with her husband. (Sadly, he died before they could start living their dream. —Miss L.)

My wife and I were in B.C. for a holiday early this winter, when the roads were shut down after being washed out by rain. We couldn’t go through the U.S. and she won’t fly, so we took VIA Rail to Winnipeg for Christmas and the return trip to Vancouver.

What a wonderful trip! We saw the mountains and the Prairies in their winter glory. Even though it was cold outside, the train was warm, the VIA people were great and the food was excellent. We saw and met lots of single people. We had a roomette. This person might really enjoy it. We are now planning a VIA trip to the East Coast, possibly this summer.

— Somewhere to Go, Manitoba

Dear Somewhere to Go: What a great suggestion! I know of another couple who took a train ride to Toronto, before COVID hit. Each night they dined with different people and made friends all the way there. Then they went to the fancy New Year’s Eve party at their hotel and flew home to Winnipeg soon after. Any regrets? They wished they’d bought return train tickets, as it was so much fun partying their way across a large part of Canada.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Please tell Nowhere To Go there are many group travel companies which cater to people who are travelling solo — from adventurous trips to more relaxing ones where everything like hotel bookings, mini-tours and baggage is taken care of for you.

— Been There, Done That, Westwood

Dear Been There, Done That: Part of the problem for new solo travellers is they’re used to “couples culture.” Once their mate was gone, they were no longer part of a couple, and feared being the odd woman or man out.

They need not fear solo travel. When tour companies advertise a certain kind of adventure — be it historical, wine-tasting, mountain climbing or combinations of mini-adventures — the focus is on activities, not marital status.

Common interests give people lots to talk about right off the hop, and many friendships form.

Travellers who have felt cooped up by COVID are itching to go now. There will be plenty of activity-based tours doing big business with happy solo travellers when the time comes!

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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