To be very honest i would not mind having you for a friend

Just depends on the timing and where each person is at in their life. I don’t pay age much mind.

In my experience all my friends were married so it might have made me hurry to marry at 21 and the woman was 34 and had 4 kids. It worked for a couple of years. In the end we remained friends over the years. She's dead now and so are 2 of the kids.

Next I'm 24 and ran off with a 16 year old. Still in the same family as the first one here, but this time around I end up with 2 daughters even though the relationship is not good.

In 1974 I ran off with a woman who had 8 kids and ended up helping raise half of them. She was 18 years older than me and we got along fine. She died of a heart attack in 1984 but my 2 daughters from the earlier marriage had come to live with us. The youngest after I found myself alone again.

In 2004 I went to Kenya at 58 to meet my future wife of the Luo tribe. She was 28 at the time and we were married 12 years. We spent over 10 years of this together. We remain friends today and we had no children together. I haven't seen her in 2 years but we both still live alone.

Throw misguided religion in between all this and there are my loves and relationships. Young or older didn't matter to me. Three white women and one black. No big deal.

The cliche is "age is just a number", but in the situations where I have been the younger party, I quite relished the aspect of being exposed to a more mature view of things. As the older party, I relished the energy and vitality of those I have been with. There are basic realities. A wider gap between ages means diverse exposure to norms and peer values. So I think it comes down to expectations and the definition of the relationship.

I've had longterm relationships with men much younger than me anywhere from 21 years younger to 11 years younger and they have all been like any other relationship. We had much in common, were loving, enjoyed the same activities. It wasn't age that ended these relationships. It was other no related issues. I don't consider age an issue unless he does not yet have children. I don't want to take the experience of being a father away from him. But jokingly told one young man "Hey, I'll probably be dead in 25 years and you'll still be young enough to move on, start a new life and have a family". Kinda morbid but that's life.

I think as long as the person is in the same stage of life (e.g. open to have kids vs kids are part of your daily life vs kids are grown, not wanting more kids, retired vs still working)

I don't believe age should be an issue. What you share in commonality and how compatible you are is what matters

My future ex wife is 16 years younger than me. The age gap made no difference at all, the problem was she was as mad as March hare. But having said that at the age of 58 I wouldn't, or it wouldn't cross my mind to, date a woman who was 74.
Age is irrelevant, other factors are in play

I have to say that I'm very happy that you're cognizant of the dilemma at the age difference presents. That is not to say that you and he couldn't have a very long loving relationship but there will be a point where he's going to still be young relatively young and then he's going to have to take care of you. that is unless God forbid he gets a rare disease and you have to take care of him. It is something that he has to come into with his eyes wide open it is something that you have to talk about with him.

I am a massage therapist and I have seen first-hand (pun intended) what kind of effect it has on people when they enter into these kinds of relationships where the age difference is tremendous. Of course it's made more complicated when the couple ends up having children. I had one client where the female in the relationship was in her late 20s or early 30s and the guy in the relationship was in his 60s. When I met them she was in her fifties and he was in his 80s and their two kids were in college. the wife had to explain all the time that that was her husband not her father and the kids always had to explain to people that he was their dad not their grandfather and he struggled because he wanted to do things and be as lively as they needed him to be but he just could not. this is the relationship that I saw more in depth but I shall more. There was one where there was some disparity and age but the real problem was that he got dementia and she was in denial and when that happens it doesn't matter whether there's one year difference or 10 years.

I've always been an "old soul", whatever that means, and I've always associated with older people because I've always shared more with them in common.

Not opposed to dating someone my age or younger, but there has to be a connection.

I've always been an "old soul", whatever that means, and I've always associated with older people because I've always shared more with them in common.

Not opposed to dating someone my age or younger, but there has to be a connection.

So you like each other. You are adults. Stop worrying and enjoy yourselves! Easy!

I am 64 and do not approach anyone for dating under 50. Now I will talk to women yunger than that but it is just to talk and freindship. I would tell them if the subject came up I am too old for them. If they go further thry need to be in their mid 30s or older. But to go out and have a good time does not mean being in a relationship. As long as in there 20s go have fun.

It seems like you know what you want, you don’t have the fetish for the young thing enough to act on it. I’d say find someone in your age group and make it happen ?

Meh. I don't think about it much. I just assume gals under 30 are not interested so they may have to give a little extra push to have me figure it out
Worry about your happiness and let them do the same.

I'm 16 years older than my current gf, which is by far the biggest gap I've ever had in a relationship. We're completely in love with each other. Not worried at all about messing up her life; we're both poly.

I would chastise her nerve and exclaim how dare she stand in my living room completely naked arms thrown wide begging me to do anything I want to her. I would wag a judgemental finger at her and sternly explain why that would be so wrong repeating everything I heard in church and ask her what's wrong with her.
I would point out how perky breasts and smooth skin and no cellulite and no stretch marks and no spare tire around her waste and no scars and no face wrinkles are so unattractive and send her to a nunnery to get her life straightened out.
Nah, just kidding. I'll fuck her and love every second of it. ?

Relationships don’t have to be perfect. The gap might be an issue in some areas. But if you enjoy each other’s company then cutting off an avenue to being happy helps no one. My first serious relationship was with a woman 9 years my senior (I was 19, don’t call the cops ?). It was one of the most informative experiences of my life, making me appreciate what relationships could be or shouldn’t be.

If there’s trust, joy and security between you both then see where it leads.

I think you’re hot. But then again, I know where you’re coming from. I have a female friend who is 12 years younger than me who has feelings for me. And I would honestly be honored to be with her but I see her the same way you talked about. I wouldn’t be with her because she’s young and beautiful and has a light inside of her that someone like me would just darken.

So I can sympathize with what you mean. But age is only a number (within reason of course). A person can be much older mentally wise than what their body physically is. Find someone who is right for you for more than just physicality.

15 years may be a bit of a stretch. Perhaps 10. I need for her to be able to relate to my age group and be young at heart enough not to care. ?

I would enjoy the ride as long as possible! ? Older men do it all the time!

It is not your call to worry about "messing up his life" unless he wants you to adopt him! It IS up to you to decide if you would feel uncomfortable around him, which will screw up both of you. If you are starting off thinking like his Mom, fergedabowdit.

I prefer older men, 10-20 years older. 3-5 years younger is my limit. I’m usually just honest with them and tell them I’m not into younger men but know many women are and wish them luck

If that someone can hold up their end of a good conversation , they're welcome !

At 65, 15 years either way is no big deal.There are women of 80+ in my wife's Ageless Dancer class. Sharp as tacks.

I have little sexual interest in young women. Not that i would refuse the experience, but i would not pursue such. I enjoy mature women more; as they look, and as their experience is reflected in all things important.

To carry on a romantic involvement with someone 30 years younger might work, but would be a bit strange. Meeting her friends. The topics of conversation and concern, no doubt way too unsophisticated for me to tolerate wasting what little time i have left. Yet, I might have a bit of fun extolling my viewpoints of history and what is important. Might corrupt one or two.

UNLESS the relationship was based in work; music, writing, and other art stuff. Then, it would be probable that others of all ages would be part of her circle, as they are of mine. And i would know that both of us would be learning. And any close encounters would be born of our mutual interests.

I have many women friends, without benefits.Always have. Just as my wife has always had many male friend. 'Tis a result of being around arty types. One of my long-time friends is a woman i met in 92. She is older than me. We have great conversations over hours long lunches..

I have approached a few local youngins for some ongoing conversation. Some success and some not.

Was i rejected because of may age? Sad for them. Rejected because i am married? Sad for them. Rejected because it is "obvious" that an old dude is only interested in a young thing for physical activity. Their loss.

I am older. A younger person can learn much from me, about a multitude of subjects.

As we get older we should feel obligated to find students to teach, and to learn from. What have we learned that should be conveyed to those you should avoid what we have done? That is the question for all of us at all ages.

So, if a younin is yearnin to learn, they should be taken allowed to.

Yet: I also know "falling in love" is a silly proposition when the age spread is wide.

Celine Dion was married at 19 to a man 26 years older. And is now involved with a man 17 years younger. Good for her. And both of the men.

::: I know this is the man in me talking here:::: If a young man is interested in a woman of any age, he should be used and taught.