Sponge Worthy

Do you remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine, given the knowledge that the Today Sponge was going off the market, purchased every surplus she could get her hands on to create her personal stockpile?  She then proceeded to quiz any man she dated to determine if he was "Sponge Worthy"; using up her precious resources, he had better be pretty damn good in order to deplete her stockpile, else someone better could come along who would have been MORE sponge worthy, and then she would be pissed off that she used the goods on a lesser person?

Yeah, my social life is kinda like that.

Let me first and foremost establish that I am certainly not talking about the sponge, or "it" for that matter, but I am referencing much more precious recourses- time and money.

In an effort to break the vicious cycle of the "to do" syndrome (please see previous post), or more accurately, wanting to experience this fabulous city I now call home, I have joined some singles groups in an effort to meet like minded people my age.  And by like minded, I mean not crazy, obsessive, normal people that like good food and a few beers.  But how do you determine someone isn't crazy until you take the time to meet them in person?

Here in lays the problem.

How do you determine when something is Sponge Worthy? 

I think I have done a good job so far to determine the cost to outcome ratio on a night out.  Does it involve larger groups of people (aka- more people to sort through in hopes of finding the normal ones).  Do I already have things in common with them (there is a much higher relateability factor with the Professional Singles group than any "Hot Chick In ATL"ish group.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm still a hot chick, but I don't want to be next to someone who could be using a fake I.D. Or mistake me for their mom). Most importantly, what is the possibility of success (success being defined as someone - male or female- that I would establish a friendship with).  All of this is combated with those ever precious resources- time and money.  How long am I going to be gone for?  Have you SEEN the cost of some babysitters these days?  I am clearly doing it all wrong, let me tell you.  Suck it college degree- I am starting my very own Babysitters Club.  Anyway, there is that, combined with will I have to ship the girls off for the night (they already have to spend nights away from home when I travel, and all I really want is for them to fall asleep in their own beds, despite their begging at the idea of a glorious sleep over where they can sleep in the next day).  Then there is the comparison of if this event is worth the one or two nights out a week that all these factors combined I typically allow myself (that is, if I am not traveling that week.  Then it's pretty much 0).  And don't go judging- one night for me to look hot and talk to other adults is not a lot to ask in my book.  I am supposedly supposed to be living some fabulous singles life, or so I have been told. 

Anyway, I have established some criteria that on the flow chart, er, I mean 'hypothetically", makes the decision fairly clear on when it's worth it to give up the goods.  And of course, a night out with girlfriends trumps everything else. 

So until my next evening out (please stand by for a future post, because believe me, it could be a good one) I will be here, trying to hold onto my resources tight enough to make any one featured on "Hoarders" proud.