PostedByAerin Spruill
on Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 1:13 PM
Before you know it, summer will be over. And with the start of fall, cuffing season officially kicks off. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, I went ahead and looked up the definition on Urban Dictionary — the go-to resource for all things slang.
“Cuffing season: During the Fall and Winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be ‘Cuffed’ or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.” Picture yourself actually being handcuffed to another human and you can understand why this phrase has become popular.
In my past relationship, everything was great during the colder months but as soon as spring fever hit, any and everything was grounds for “taking a break.” Blame it on the “suns out buns out” mentality I guess. Having lived in the Queen City for three years now, I can definitely understand why it’s easier to be single during the summertime. Between the many breweries, AA5, concerts, festivals, pool parties and lake trips who has time to be tied down by a relationship? Not to mention, who can keep their eyes to themselves with the amount of skin that is shown during the hot N.C. heat?
Conversely, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD, how ironic?), better understood as winter depression, is pervasive in young professional circles as the weather cools down. There is a common understanding that nightlife slows down significantly in the Q.C. during the winter and I can’t say my three years of experience has shown me otherwise. Going out becomes a task because it’s hot in the club but freezing on the walk there. Anything with a patio, unless it’s filled with heaters, is rendered useless. And the pool is nothing but a reminder of the ragers you’re going to miss for at least six months. During this time the focus shifts from skin to which spoon — romantic cuddle partner — will keep you warm at night.
While I live for long summer nights filled with regretful mornings and unlikely hookups, I am also a huge advocate of all things PDA (public displays of affection) and lovey dovey. So cuffing season is always something I look forward to. But seeing as the dating scene has its fair share of landmines, finding the perfect cuddle buddy in the Queen City can be challenging.
Regardless of whether or not you plan on having your cuddle buddy hanging around when the spring air hits or not, you should keep the following in mind because, let’s be honest, no one wants to be alone when it’s cold outside.
1. Think Outside of the Box: If you’re anything like me, you’ll be avoiding the winter chill like the plague. Make sure you and your cuddle buddy get creative with the time you spend inside. Netflix and movies can last a long time but what happens when that gets boring? (I know, nearly impossible right?) Think about having a picnic inside or renting a lake house with a hot tub. Things can get real cozy then!
2. Find Someone Who Can Cook: They don’t have to be a professional chef, although that’s a plus. Watching your cuddle buddy cook for you can be exciting. Even if the food isn’t all that great, you’ll appreciate the effort and again it will make being inside fun. Not to mention, eating out more often during the winter will only make shedding the summer pounds that much harder.
3. Balance Going Out vs. Staying In: While this should always be the goal, during the summer if we’ve been single there’s no limit to how many times a week(end) we will go out. Be careful taking this mentality into cuffing season with the cuddle buddy, you may quickly get replaced. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’ve got post 2:30 a.m. plans, and you get ignored. Even though you may not be official, cuddle buddies get sensitive.
4. It’s All About the Birds and the Bees: We can’t talk about cuffing season without at least mentioning the whole point of a cuddle buddy — the intimacy. It is imperative that whoever you choose to make your winter companion is satisfying from an intimate standpoint. If not, you’ll get bored before the first chilly fall morning. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
Even though the summer’s not quite over, I’m not wasting any time. I’ve already got my cuddle buddy lined up. What do you look for in a partner when cuffing season approaches?