I think you are over thinking it.

A few weeks ago I went to dinner with a female friend.

Had a great time.

At the end of the night she went home and went home.

We even talked about my sitch (she use to be a shrink)

In some circles that would be a date.

It wasn't

It was dinner it just so happened that the person was a female.

I think this is what country is getting at.

You don't lose yourself or the purpose of your journey because you decided to have dinner with someone of the opposite sex.

How is that different than going out to dinner with a male friend?

BITS