we have gone to very nice restaurants arranged by our hostess - who is an absolute doll!  very nice - and very attentive to all!  People eat -drink and talk... there are pairing offs of couse... but for the most part - it is a very enjoyable evening...

What a lot of gents do not get - I gather is that they are smart - intelligent and very concerned (for the most part) about the world in which they live.  So all in all - it is a great evening... here - the gents are responsible for picking up the tab - and I have found that to be a reasonable expectation - in fact, I think that we get off fairly cheap... but it is all good.  a different dimension to the hobby.