Off-Line Dating

Ok, so now to update you on the past few months of the dating scene offline.

The first I met at a local pub hangout, kind of known for the military/cop scene. Oh, and just side note- for some reason I attract (not request), military and law enforcement men all the time. Regardless of the area or locale, I always seem to meet this type. It must be on my forehead or something-- "Military please apply." Anyway, so the first guy was a late-20-something Marine. Named C. Known as C the Marine. Decent, nice body, some tattoos, deep manly voice and presence. Overall nice guy. We chatted on the phone for a couple weeks after the initial meeting, and he came with me to an after work function, aka happy hour, to celebrate a promotion of a friend. Afterwards, he came over to my place and we hung around watching tv. As I could feel the chemistry was definitely there, I decided to have the sex questions. It goes a little something like this- keep up!! :
N: So, how many times you been in love?
C: Twice. You?
N: Twice. Last relationship- how long, when did it end?
C: 2 years, about a year ago. You?
N:3 years, two months ago. STDs?
C: No. You?
N: No. Ever married?
C: No. You?
N: No. Kids?
C: Yes.
-Pause- I literally stopped dead. Brain shut off, mouth went dry, the chemistry fizzled instantly.
-Resume-
N: Really? You're not joking?
C: No. I have two.
-Pause- Ok, two? Good grief, its called a condom. That's a little too much to handle.
-Resume-
C: With two different moms.
N: Man, is that the time? I have work tomorrow. Lets do this again, huh? Lots of fun!

Now, it wasn't that harsh of an ending. I did the -aww, where do they live? you see them often?- lines, but at my age, I just don't want that kind of extra baggage in my life when I have plenty of my own! We ended the night with what I'm sure he thinks is a passionate kiss. I would say a passionate kiss with a python, knife-like tongue that tried to slice my mouth like carrots for stir fry. C the Marine- what a disappointment. And also the start of a very long (and still to this very day), spell of meeting decent-at-first-men with kids. So time-wasting. No thanks.

The next guy I met through friends of friends/at a bar Halloween party. R the weenie. We hung out a few times, he had a decent job, degree, family guy (no kids), but he was slightly immature when it comes to relationships and the chemistry just wasn't there. He was also a little too clingy. Sending texts and facebook messages a little too often.

The next guy actually lasts today as a on again, off again friend. He, too, is in the Marines. I met him at the same location as C the marine. But this one, R Brooklyn, was my age. Kids? Yup. One, though. And that relationship ended with her cheating on him while he was deployed to war. So my acceptance for kids changes with the circumstances of their conception and the relationship with the mother. He and I have great chemistry, and after my father passed he provided/provides a level of comfort I cant yet describe. I think because he has friends that passes in the similar fashion as my dad, I share a unique connection with him. And he understood me better a few weeks after we started 'dating' than men I had seen for months. We currently have a very tumultuous relationship, from loving hanging out with each other to sending angry text messages about not communicating well. I don't know how this can end well, as I still don't tolerate kids. But the point is I highly enjoy his company, and in my current emotional state he has helped tremendously, less the angry texts.