I really struggled in Portland as an early 20-something. Bars and clubs were places I would go with my friends and not really where I was in the space to find someone.

I was on the apps a lot but extremely picky about actually meeting up with people; there were a lot of frogs to sift through! I literally went on one app date ever, when I was 24, from Hinge, and we’ve now been together for over 6 years and married for a year and a half.

I’m sorry I don’t have any useful advice, but I will say it’s possible. But it sucks until you get there. The best way I can describe it is that the dating pool in Maine is very shallow: decent size with lots of options, but very few that are viable and right for any one person.