Missed opportunities: We've all had 'em.

I wasn't really sure where to post this, but I chose GENERAL BDSM DISCUSSION because I wanted to address the question to the general population [cough] of the CM community.

I am sure that everyone has, at some point, run into someone or a situation where there could have been a real connection involving BDSM; but instead, we just let it slide by, then later live to regret it.

Case in point, and my first experience of this kind:

Back many yars ago when I was an undergrad, there used to be a store called Akron here in California. It was sorta like Pier One Imports where you could buy lots of imported crappy goods at bargain prices. One day I saw either a newspaper ad or flyer, but they had bullwhips on sale at $2.99 each. Yeah, yeah, but this was probably before Janet Heartwood was ever born, and I was a struggling student at the time. Anyway, I drove down there to pick up a few things (haha), and while I was checking out there was a very attractive, tall blonde woman in the line behind me. And because I thought that everyone in the store was looking at me and knew my secret, I was peripherally scanning the immediate area. (Women are better at peripheral scanning, but so am I.) Just as the checker pulled on of the whips out of the basket, I sensed that the blonde woman behind me becoming very nervous, but in a good sorta way. You know, that do-me, do-me sexual tension kinda vibe. And when I turned around to see her, she had this "deer caught in the headlights" situation goin' on.

Well, after I checked out and went to the parking lot (I was moving very slowly, 'ya see), and I was just loading my purchases in the trunk when I turned my head and looked past a couple of parked cars and saw the same blonde looking at me. I mean, my house was only a block away, and she and I could have gone right to it!!! And that means no "Can I buy you a drink?" or "Would you like to see my paintings? I have an original Matisse," but probably a sure thing! Instead of taking the initiative, I got into my car and just split. I'm saying to myself, "Oh, you idiot!" This was like a boxing match that ends in the first round, or an orgasm without a drop of those precious bodily fluids. What was I thinking...or not thinking? [Covering my ears like a hound dog at a hodown.]

Your thoughts? Does this bring to mind any stories of missed opportunities?