Dating is like buying a car

Tonight I went to an awesome singles service @ Watermark called the Porch. The singles pastor, JP, started a series called "Boy Meets Girl". Its a five part series about dating, which lets face it, I need all the help I can get! 

JP used a great analogy on buying a car and finding a potential mate...which I love, and am totally going to steal and put in my own words! 

So I think my problem is, like when buying a car, I know what I like (something really shiny, dependable, and in-between flashy and family) but don't really have an exact list of what I am wanting to purchase. But to be honest, if I were to talk on a car lot right now, I have no idea what I'd be looking for, or even what model I would even be interested in buying for the next 6-7 years! I can't even visualize myself in a new car, becauese I don't know what I want. I know I want a new car, but I haven't really taken the time to do the research as to what I want. Maybe that is the problem with my dating life... I know what is appealing, but I don't really have a criteria set for what I am looking to spend the next 40-50 years with! Marriage is a much bigger commitment to me then choosing a car is!

I think in the past I set my standards low for what I was purchasing. I just wanted to get in a new car (relationship) so bad, that I made it work. I was blinded by the test drive, and all of the sudden was signing the paperwork and working out a seven year (or seven month) loan. At least that was the scenario with Mr. Wrong, he had the outward appeal of being a good guy, but really on the inside needed a lot of tuning up. D was the dependable "Camry" relationship of my life- I knew he had the potential to be a great husband, and I knew he was serious about being stable... unfortunately that relationship was a loaner. Mr. Social, well as the most recent relationship, I would compare him to his actual car- a hummer. He was larger then life, and was constantly being notice with others- he was lacking the dependability I needed. He was too  flashy and into being seen instead of settling down.

After tonight I think I really need to sit down, and figure out what I'm looking for in the big car lot called dating in Dallas. There are so many models out there; and while I know not all of them are bright, shiny and new, I also know I don't want to buy a car for its exterior appeal. I want to look under the hood, check out the trunk size (get your head out of the gutter... I move a lot, I need someone that can help!), and really decide if this is a car I can depend on.

So over these last few days of summer, I am going to make my list of criteria that I'm looking for in a car (hmm boy). I don't want to be taken advantage of when I walk out on that car lot us single girls refer to as Uptown. I'm not going to waste my time with a sales guy who is selling me all the wrong things. I will not be persuaded to settle for anything less then my dream car aka dream man.

More to come... Strap on your seat belts!