Thanks KC_Conspirator.
I don’t like to think in those terms, but that’s the way it is out there.
Went out with a woman and a daughter. Spent over $100 on our meal. This was at a local big-name resort. We walked into the gift shop, and she starting picking out things to buy.
We had already gotten over $150, and she sent her daughter out to select more things. Instead of being appreciative, she was angling to get more while the getting was good.
I know exactly what was going on, but I enjoy being nice to people even if I am being taken advantage of. I had no delusions about what was going on, and I had no unspoken goals for the end of the evening. This wasn’t that type of relationship for either of us.
The kid living with a single mom, I was inclined to do nice things.
After that night, I cut off the monetary gravy train.
There are perks to being alone and becoming accustomed to it.
Marriage is no protection against this sort of thing either.
You have to remember that does not make you a bad person. There are some manipulative women out there who do that sort of thing. Sadly I had a few bad experiences years ago similar to yours, so its simple dates early.