How are vaccines changing dating habits? Here’s what readers say

Seattle Dating Scene features readers’ thoughts and stories about what it’s like to date in Seattle. For our next feature, follow this prompt: Describe the best, worst or most interesting date you’ve ever been on.

By Thursday, April 8, please email your submissions to dating@seattletimes.com or submit them via Instagram direct message to @dating_in_seattle, and they may be published in a future edition of The Mix.

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Dating Question of the Month

With the more expansive rollout of COVID-19 vaccines underway, how will that affect your dating habits (people you’re willing to meet, favorite date spots you’d like to return to, etc.)?

Answers have been edited for spelling and clarity.

“I’m definitely going to wait until I’m vaccinated and most people are as well, but I’m really looking forward to finally feeling comfortable meeting others in person again.”

— Anonymous

“I’m looking forward to finally being able to go to a concert for a date.”

— Andrew

“I’m already vaccinated, not much has changed though.”

— Elise

“I’m adhering to all the same protocols until everyone in my pod is also vaccinated. And even then, I’ll probably wait until infection rates are way down before going maskless on a date.”

— Bridget

“I think this is mostly increasing the frequency of dates … if I’m able to get dates, that is.”

— Will

“Meeting in real life sooner and more often. I already am, now that I’m vaccinated!”

— Robin

“There will be more options on things to do for dates. As places open up the variety of dates will be a nice change of pace.”

— Alexander

“I’m likely to stick with distancing for a while. Vaccination doesn’t mean invincible.”

— Jason

“It does feel like this is coming at the perfect time. I’m so burnt-out on Zoom. Of course, I’m still being careful and cautious, but there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m ready to meet more people.”

— Anonymous

“There’s much more comfort being one-on-one in private spaces. Not much difference in public.”

— Phil

“It won’t change much for me. I like slow dating.”

— Angel

“I’ve been vaccinated already, so I’ve been kind of skewing toward finding people on the apps (Tinder and Hinge) that say they’ve been vaccinated, too. I’m not discriminating or anything! But it just seems easier to make plans.”

— Anonymous

“It won’t change how I date, but it will give me more peace of mind.”

— Meg

“There’s no change right now. More people need to be vaccinated.”

— Colleen

“I might actually start dating again.”

— Sean

Here’s the monthly “Seattle Dating Scene” lineup:

• First week: “Dating Question of the Month” — Readers respond to a dating-related question we’ve posed.
• Second week: “How We Met” — Have the perfect meet-cute story? Or a great first date? In under 500 words, tell us how you met your significant other, and send in your story and a photo.
• Third week: “Best Date/Worst Date” — In under 250 words, tell us an anecdote from the best or worst date you’ve been on.
• Fourth week: “Ask Marina” — Marina Resto, who runs the lively @Dating_in_Seattle Instagram account, answers reader questions about dating — or finds a special guest to answer the ones she can’t!