As the weather gets warmer, you may find yourself curious to try meeting people outdoors or in public spaces. We don’t blame you – outdoor encounters can be fun, exciting, and full of spontaneity.

ROMEO sat down with the host of the queer podcast, “Snowballing”, Gareth Johnson to talk about what makes outdoor meetups so special, and what cruising etiquette is all about! Here are a few things we came up with:

Embrace the Unknown

Risk and the unknown are a part of what makes outdoor encounters so exciting. You may enter your experience with certain expectations, but the most thrilling part is that you don’t know what the outcome will be. If you are feeling adventurous, you may find someone who will connect with you in a meaningful way—and that can happen in different forms. Explore these possibilities and keep an open mind.

Anywhere can be a meeting spot

Cruising does not always have to be intentional. Maybe you’re in a public restroom and think, “This would be a perfect meeting spot.” You can look at the height of the bathroom stalls, or take a little more time washing your hands to scan the location. You can constantly keep sharpening your observational skills by staying alert in situations that you do not expect: this is where the fun can really start.

Be present

Eye contact is one of the most important parts of cruising: you lock eyes with someone and know that you are on the same page. This is why keeping your phone away in order to be as grounded and present as possible is important. You don’t want to miss the little details that can make all the difference.

Patience goes a long way

Patience is crucial when cruising. Things might not always go your way from the beginning, and that’s fine. The next opportunity will come. Other cruisers can pick up on when you really are in the moment, and when you seem rushed and not open to the possibilities. Slow it down, and look around more.

We’ve also narrowed down some safety tips from ROMEO to help you prepare to go out on your adventure. If you’re well-prepared, you can focus on being more grounded and present when you’re actually at the meeting areas. So here are our tips!

Research your location!

When you have made your decision on which meeting ground you’ll be visiting, do a background check on it. Do you have friends who have been there before? Ask them! Check online forums or look up articles written about it. Also, check our ROMEO Groups! On your profile, go to the Groups tab and search for your keywords (this only works if you are using the web version of ROMEO).

Prepare in advance

After doing your research, it’s time to think about what you will need when you go there. Think about what kind of shoes you need to wear, whether you need insect repellent, and if you plan to stay for a long time there during the day, consider a hat or even sunscreen.

Secure your belongings!

Your belongings could either get lost or stolen while you’re out in the wilderness enjoying the outdoors. You will need an action plan on how you will secure your most precious possessions. For example, hide your house key inside your shoe, and put your phone away.

Outdoor cruising is something that people in our community have enjoyed for many years. Even though we all have access to online meetups, there will always be something special about going out and experiencing the thrill of meeting new people in the open air. Have fun, stay safe out there, and Happy Pride!