"I Could Never Date Someone Who Hates Shrimp and Grits" (and Other Guilty Pleasures I’m Choosing to Own)

Growing up in a beach town, I learned early on that life, like low tide, can shift unexpectedly, stirring up treasures if you’re curious enough to look. For me, those treasures are often unconventional, borderline obsessive passions – the kind of quirks that make you lean in closer on a first date, wondering, “Wait, is she serious?” Yes, I am serious. And no, I won’t apologize for them. Let’s dive into a few of my odd little fascinations and see if you find yourself nodding along, cringing, or (hopefully) texting them to a friend like, “This is so me.”

Section 1: “The Lighthouse Whisperer”

Let’s start with this: If you suggest a road trip, there’s a 97% chance I’ll plan the route to include a lighthouse. Some people can’t resist a good charcuterie board; I can’t resist a weathered beacon with a distressingly narrow staircase. It’s not just the romance of them (although, come on, moody skies and glowing Fresnel lenses? Nicholas Sparks built an empire on less). It’s also the history—the way these lighthouses bore witness to both storms and calm seas, guiding sailors to safety or, in some cases, standing steadfast as warning signs.

When I mention this on dates, the usual reaction is a polite, “Huh, that’s neat!” right before they steer the conversation toward something safer, like favorite pizza toppings. But lighthouses are more than neat—they’re metaphors for relationships! A good partner keeps their inner light steady, warning us of rocky emotional waters ahead while still inviting us home. (Or maybe this is just what I tell myself when I disappear for hours Googling which lighthouses rent out as Airbnbs.)

Dating Tip: Don’t hide your quirky passions. Whether it’s lighthouses or vintage lunchboxes, the right person will lean into your oddities, not away from them. Bonus if they’re brave enough to climb that spiral staircase with you.

Section 2: My Fake Relationship... With Boardwalk Taffy

There’s no other way to say this: I romanticize boardwalks the way some people romanticize Paris. I even have a “dream first date” that involves funnel cakes, skee-ball competitions, and, of course, bags of pastel taffy purchased in impractical bulk. I realize this paints me less as a femme fatale and more as a Jennie from the Blockbuster rental aisle (circa 2002), but hear me out. The boardwalk isn’t about sophistication—it’s about joy, nostalgia, and jumping into moments without worrying how you look doing it.

I’ve been known to drag out-of-town friends down the Grand Strand late at night, insisting we ride rickety Ferris wheels or let fortune tellers predict their next love interest. I’ve even tried to convince past boyfriends to recreate rom-com-worthy walk-off moments under the flashing lights. Do you know what’s awkward? Trying to storm off dramatically when your flip-flops keep smacking against your heels.

Dating Tip: Find someone who shares your sense of fun, even if it’s a little cheesy. If they’re willing to carry your comically oversized prize from the ring toss just to see your smile, keep them.

Section 3: Shrimp, Grits, and Deep Thoughts

Here’s a spicy little confession: I’ve used shrimp and grits as a compatibility test. Isn’t it telling how someone reacts to a signature dish? The person who dismisses it as “basic” probably won’t vibe with my love of Sunday brunches or my borderline religious devotion to cooking shows. But the person who bites into it and marvels at the smoky perfection of shrimp coupled with creamy grits will probably get me.

See, I’m one of those hopeless romantics who believes food is a love language. Meals tell stories—the shrimp and grits on my family’s table whisper of Lowcountry roots, shared recipes, quiet mornings watching my mom cook with bare feet on our slightly sandy floors. If I offer to teach someone how to make my version of the dish, it’s not just because I think it’ll impress them (it absolutely will); it’s because sharing food memories feels like dismantling a piece of my personal walls, one forkful at a time.

Dating Tip: Pay attention to your date’s relationship with food. Nothing says intimacy quite like cooking together, arguing over whether the garlic is sautéed enough, or sampling sauces straight from the pan.

Section 4: I’m Sorry, Did You Say Ghost Tour?

Nothing steals my heart faster than a well-told ghost story. I could blame it on my Southern Gothic influences or too much Nancy Drew growing up, but the truth is I find the line between this world and the one beyond fascinating. During my college years in Charleston, ghost tour guides probably knew me on a first-name basis. Just think of the storytelling! The intrigue! And sure, the occasional fabricated tale for tips—but there’s something wildly romantic about a city like Charleston, where the cobblestones are thick with history and untold secrets.

I once suggested a date on a ghost tour, and it went…fine until our charming guide asked, “And which house do y’all think is the most haunted?” I excitedly pointed it out. My date didn’t respond because he was already halfway down the block, sprinting for the car. Some might call this a red flag; I call it healthy darwinism.

Dating Tip: Let your interests filter out the wrong people. It might sting at first, but finding someone who keeps pace with you—whether you’re walking through haunts or pausing for selfies beside creepy mansions—is worth the wait.

Section 5: The Obsession That Tied It All Together

If you read this far, I owe you some honesty. My passions aren’t just shiny distractions—they’re pieces of my puzzle. Each hobby I geek out over tells a part of my story: the mornings I spent walking the Myrtle Beach boardwalk in search of treasure, the nights poring over cookbooks trying to perfect grandma’s shrimp and grits recipe. What’s funny is when I lean fully into these, other people do, too.

Take my most recent relationship: It started slow because I was hesitant to show him all these sides of me, worried he’d think they were too much. But when he casually suggested we grab taffy and visit a lighthouse on our second date, I knew we’d clicked. He’d taken the time to listen, look closer, and even chuckle at my eccentricities. And honestly? So had I.

Conclusion: Let Your Obsessions Find the Right People

Here’s my takeaway: Embracing quirky passions doesn’t make you weird; it makes you magnetic—to the right people, anyway. Whether it’s planning vacations around haunted inns or defining your future soulmate by how they tilt the pan when making grits, these little fixations draw the very folks who’ll laugh with you, climb lighthouses with you, and maybe even hold your taffy bag on the boardwalk. And isn’t that what we’re all searching for? Someone who thinks your shining light—quirks and all—is worth navigating by.