One thing I like about going to the local REI is interacting with the cute nerdy guys who work there. As soon as I walk in, they come up to ask if I need help with anything, always so friendly, smiling, and so obviously in love with their sport(s) of choice. As I walk by them standing in aisles, deep in conversation with other customers, I always eavesdrop and smile to myself when I hear them so passionately explaining why welded seams are better than stitched, or why the nozzle of one floor pump is better than the other brand.

I always wonder how these cute nerdy sporty boys would be as boyfriends (I mean, they’re cute, so why not think more serious? :). They’re laid-back, outdoorsy, LOVE gear (hey, they’re selling it, and REI is that kind of a place where they hire people to sell stuff they believe in) … what’s there not to love, right?

Then I think, they probably wouldn’t ever want to put on a suit, or a tux, or go to fancy restaurants with me. That’s the problem with cute nerdy guys who work at REI. They can rattle off bike gear ratios, but they don’t know what cuff links are.