The Hinge Experiment: Harry Potter, Market Research and a Very Profitable Weekend

Apparently, the universe has decided that The Hinge Experiment™ needs a travel budget.

I found out yesterday that I might be able to go to Columbia, South Carolina, this weekend for a two-day market research interview/discussion.

That sounds pretty good on its own.

Then I found out there was a small problem.

Airica was hoping we could go see the Harry Potter experience at COSM in Atlanta.

Well, that ain't happening.

Atlanta will have to wait.

But then I realized something.

Airica is in Columbia.

And suddenly, this market research weekend got a whole lot more interesting.

Wait... This Actually Works

The original plan was Harry Potter in Atlanta.

Instead, we're going to have:

Friday night: Dinner with Airica.

Saturday: I do my market research session, then we hang out afterward.

Sunday afternoon: More time together.

So instead of one Harry Potter adventure in Atlanta, I potentially get three opportunities to hang out with Airica in Columbia.

I'm calling that a win.

And there's another little detail that makes this weekend even better.

Somebody Is Paying Me to Go on This Trip

Let's review the economics here.

I'm getting:

A hotel for the weekend.

Food during the market research sessions.

Payment for participating.

And 72 cents per mile for the drive.

Seventy-two cents.

Per.

Mile.

When can I do another one of these?

Seriously.

Where do I sign up?

If somebody wants to pay me to drive to Columbia, put me in a hotel, feed me, pay me for my time, and give me an opportunity to see Airica...

I suddenly have a very strong interest in market research.

I may become the world's foremost expert on answering questions in exchange for hotel rooms.

"Would you recommend this product?"

Absolutely.

"Why?"

Because you're paying me to be here.

Next question.

The Harry Potter Detour

I do feel bad that the Harry Potter plans aren't going to happen.

Airica wanted to see the Harry Potter movie at COSM in Atlanta.

Unfortunately, the timing of this market research opportunity makes that a no-go.

But here's the thing I've learned about dating:

Plans change.

Things come up.

We adjust.

And instead of spending the weekend apart because the original plan didn't work, we're finding a way to spend time together anyway.

Friday night.

Saturday after my session.

Sunday afternoon.

I'm pretty sure that's significantly better than sitting in my hotel room eating whatever they give me and watching television.

Although I reserve the right to do that for at least part of Saturday night.

I'm 54.

I'm allowed to get tired.

Then Came This Morning

This morning, I beat Airica to the "Good morning" text.

This is apparently becoming a competition.

And I have to admit, I hesitated.

It was my usual dialysis morning.

The time when most normal human beings are asleep.

The time when I'm awake because I have an appointment with the vampire machine to clean my blood.

The dialysis facility was also short-staffed, so I ended up sitting in the waiting area.

And while I was sitting there, I thought:

Should I text her?

It's early.

Really early.

Most of the world isn't awake at the hour I willingly allow a machine to remove approximately every useful thing from my blood while someone sticks two needles into my arm.

Would "Good morning" at this hour be considered sweet?

Or would it be considered:

"Why the hell is this guy texting me at 5-something in the morning?"

There's a fine line between romantic and requiring a restraining order.

I decided to risk it.

I sent the message.

Apparently, I'm Learning

One thing I've noticed about this whole experience is how different it feels.

I'm not trying to manufacture conversation.

I'm not sitting there wondering if I'm going to get a response.

I'm not staring at a Hinge screen wondering why someone disappeared.

We're actually talking.

We're making plans.

And now we're figuring out how to make a weekend work when the original plan doesn't.

That's dating.

At least, I think that's dating.

Remember, I'm the guy whose recent dating résumé includes being asked for rent money and a phone bill.

My qualifications are limited.

Columbia, Here I Come

So now I get to drive to Columbia, get paid to participate in market research, get reimbursed for the mileage, stay in a hotel, eat someone else's food...

and see Airica three times.

Harry Potter may have lost.

But I think I came out pretty well in the rewrite.

And somewhere, Steve the Iguana is probably sitting on a beach wondering how the hell this happened.

A few weeks ago, I was seriously considering deleting Hinge.

Now I'm planning a weekend around a woman I met on it.

Maybe The Hinge Experiment isn't quite ready to end.

Maybe it's just getting interesting.

And if anyone knows where I can sign up for another two-day market research study in a city where Airica happens to live...

I'm available. 😂