We got along great, spent many Saturday nights and Sunday mornings together, and even attended family events on both sides. However, inevitably, he decided that the age difference was too much and advised me in an emotional phone call one day. While I was quite disappointed, I also realized that in some way I was relieved as I admit to having some misgivings about his “old-man” habits as well. A retired mechanic and guitar player, his hearing is not the strongest and even though we joked about what he thought I said, there were most likely some communication gaps.

We are both truly decent and well-raised people, and he asked me to try the “friends” thing and so far we are doing okay. Now, normally, the post-breakup-friend-thing is _not_ my gig, but I know he is a good person who appreciated everything I did during the relationship so he is sincere. (For you cynics out there, there is no financial benefit in it for either of us; everything is separate so that is not a factor.) In fact, he asked me to go see a local band with him this weekend and I agreed.

I really enjoyed our time together as a couple, although sometimes it did feel awkward. Don’t get me wrong; he definitely had ability to “perform,” but it truly wasn’t all about that. We had hours of conversations that you can’t have with just everyone. You know what I mean, I hope. We just clicked, I guess.

We truly enjoy each other’s company and I accepted his invitation for this weekend as it’s something that we both will enjoy and I am a technically single woman so I am not disrespecting anyone. Yes, I’m on this site, but have not yet met anyone specifically, so this is strictly two acquaintances both attending something they enjoy.

Bottom line: I know that most people prefer to believe that age may not matter in a mature, later-in-life relationship, but to this person it does. Our greatest discrepancies were height and age, of which I think we were both self-conscious (I know I was) with me at 5’2″ (not counting heels, which I love) and him at 6’4″, and me at 40 and him at 60 (he was twenty years old and in the service the year I was born!).

However, I am glad that we still appreciate each other, even though the friendship thing is new. There is no FWB (see, he probably wouldn’t get that acronym as he is not into texting and has little regard for “text-talk” anyway), but I know that he will be gentlemanly and treat me well, which is actually quite important at my age.

I think of my grandparents – they were lucky enough to not have to worry dating later in life as they stayed together, and my Grandma was as a big of a flirt as I am though she was 100% loyal to my papa. How do we do this? It’s awkward to date these days, online or otherwise.

What’s the point: does age make a difference? I think that it might, even in middle-age years (40s on). Thanks for reading. Best of luck to you.

We were crazy about each other despite having little in common in terms of culture and education, which I now understand is a meaningless, even artifical, difference when people are truly compatible. I should have married her, but I was young and foolish.

I have always believed that ideally a man should be fifteen to twenty years older than his wife.

Even older can also work depending on the man and woman involved.

Not everyman loses his sex drive with age–but if you are a couch potato and eat like a pig, you will probably lose it.

And not all old guys have sagging bodies, pot bellies, and jowls.

As for a man retiring before his wife, some of us have our own businesses and intend to keep working until we drop.

As for age related health issues–sure there will be some, but I’ve known plenty of men in their twenties and thirties who already have more serious health issues than having to go to the bathroom once or twice a night.

And I’ve know quite a few women who died of disease by the age of 55–sometimes a lot younger than that.

Nonetheless, I have do have some concerns about how long I can keep going before I start to slow down–but I’ve learned firsthand that worrying too much about tomorrow can actually destroy your chance of happiness and success: dwelling on your worries has a nasty habit of making them come true.

So don’t worry too much about tomorrow; there’s enough on your plate today, let tomorrow take care of itself.

You can waste a lot of time trying too carefully to plan your future when there are too many unknowns about what might be possible years from now.

Life too rarely offers any of us the chance for true happiness with someone, so if it feels right, be brave and go for it, like I should have done–but didn’t.

I may be in my 30s now, and open to dating men 40 to 60, but what happens when its my turn to be 60 or 70 and I’m still here after my husband passes on?
Try not to judge the “Kittens” (opposite of cougars), if anyone has a chance of finding AARP love… Its never going to be us.

*Not ALL men go for younger women – TRUST ME!

I would say age matters, to a point. But it doesn’t have to be a show-stopper.