Meeting at the office, workplace, or school

After-work or school date have advantages as well as a couple of pitfalls:

Unless you work in a one-man operation, you're meeting in a public place and can keep your private home address to yourself for now.

Presumably your coworkers will still be around. It's a great opportunity to see how well your date relates to others.

You can still exercise the option to provide your own transportation from work - you can leave your car there and call a cab from the restaurany or theater.

One disadvantage is that it ups the pressure for your date to offer to escort you home if you

haven't left a car at your meeting place.

Now your date knows where to find you eight hours a day. At home, at least you can leave the machine on or change your phone number if the situation gets too dicey (for instance, your date won't take no for an answer). In some working environments - a store, restaurant, driving a city bus - it can be much harder to avoid a too-ardent admirer.

The major disadvantage of meeting at work - blowing your cover - can be offset by meeting somewhere near work.