Free Love:
Dating on the Cheap
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There's No Charge to Go Outside

Remember that time when you wanted to get in shape and you were like, man, I hate gyms, I'm just going to buy a basketball/bike/pair of rollerblades and I'll use them on my local court/on that trail near my house/in my local park, and then you used them twice, (and that's, in fact, being generous, because once plus that time you showed your purchase to your best friend doesn't really count), and then after that, you sat your fat ass back down on your couch because that's the most comfortable place in the world?

Well, maybe that was just me.

Anyway, there's probably some old sporting goods gathering dust in your closet, just waiting for a little love and attention. Get up and get outside, people! There's a whole big world out there, just waiting for you and the one you love. A local school near your house may offer free court time, tennis or basketball. This site lists parks in Washington State with dedicated paths for you, your inline skates, and your kneepads, or if you have a car, head to your nearest hiking trail. In Chicago, Navy Pier is a great place to start or end a bike tour. No matter where you live, you can find the best bike trails near you.

A Different Kind of "Parking"

In general, parks are a perfect place to hang out, whether it's your first date or you're madly in love. Can't fit a dog in to your small apartment in New York? Check out the dog runs in practically every park in the city. Love to people-watch? Take a squat in the legendary Tompkins Square Park in New York, where every day is a mystery. Or lay back by the reservoir in Volunteer Park in Seattle, where there's a delightful combination of dogs, children, and pleasant hippies sneaking tokes and playing frisbee. (A quick jaunt down the street can bring you to the cemetery that houses Bruce Lee's grave, but that kind of date is not for everyone.) You can also whip out that nature guide from your Boy or Girl Scout days, to go on a hunt for nuts and berries. Many cities offer free guided nature tours, as well, like New York's Central Park and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

Even better, if you live in a coastal city like Los Angeles, take a walk down the beach. There's nothing more invigorating than watching the freak show in front of the crashing surf on Venice Beach. Even those landlocked in the Midwest can stroll idly down spectacular Lake Michigan off of downtown Chicago.

The focus of a free date should be simplicity. It doesn't really matter where you are, as long as you're spending time with someone you find interesting. It's about scaling down in an increasingly complex society; it's about getting to know the worth of someone, rather than how much they're worth; it's about great conversation and imagination.

And those can't be bought.

Jami Attenberg is a writer in New York City.