My biggest age difference in a relationship was with a guy who was 43 when I was, like, 21. He was an alcoholic who couldn't get it up so you could see the appeal.
'Why limit yourself?' is the mantra of one of my girlfriends when it comes to age and dating. 'As long as their voice has changed, they're fair game.'
And really, in these days of '50 is the new 19,' nobody looks or acts their age anymore anyway.
'I have always felt this question [of how old do you feel] to be categorically insulting,' a 'younger, middle-agish' friend tells me. 'Um, I don't pick my nose in public anymore and I can represent myself well in an argument but I don't use blue rinse or wear support hose as yet either.'
And, according to marketing folk, psychographics (how old you feel) are often more important than demographics (how old you are). So, for example, you may be pushin' 90, but if you feel 30, you'd be considered part of the 18-34 psychographic.
Which is useful when it comes to selling people stuff, but imagine what the same principal could do for your dating options. It might seem inappropriate for a 40-year-old to date a 20-year-old but if the 40-year-old is only 30 psychographically and the 20-year-old is 25 psychographically, age-wise, they just might be a perfect match.
Of course, people don't need clever marketing formulas to justify their dating choices when it comes to age. Most of us make up our own.
'As long as it's not ?dad' territory,' a lovely, young actress friend tells me of her age-limit criteria.
Family members seem to be a popular gauge on both ends of the scale: 'They have to be older than my younger brother,' another woman tells me.
Of course, it also depends on whether you're planning on doing more than sleeping with the person. 'I mean, is it just sex or am I going to have to have breakfast with the guy and attempt conversation?' a young woman in her 30s asks.
But, our middle-agish woman also had a problem with this distinction. 'Sleeping with people is a type of relationship, isn't it?'
'I just can't see myself hooking up with someone half my age when I'm 40,' said one of several male friends, contradicting the stereotype that all men want younger women as they approach middle age. 'You need that compatible life experience.'
Having said that, however, as a friend in Vancouver so aptly put it, 'It is still a great ego boost when a guy ten years younger than you makes it quite apparent that he's got it bad for you!'
Which begs a whole new marketing term.
Yes, boss, I've got the latest would-you-do-me-graphics right here.
What's your age-difference limit? Ever date anyone much younger? Much older? How did things work out?
'Why limit yourself?' is the mantra of one of my girlfriends when it comes to age and dating. 'As long as their voice has changed, they're fair game.'
And really, in these days of '50 is the new 19,' nobody looks or acts their age anymore anyway.
'I have always felt this question [of how old do you feel] to be categorically insulting,' a 'younger, middle-agish' friend tells me. 'Um, I don't pick my nose in public anymore and I can represent myself well in an argument but I don't use blue rinse or wear support hose as yet either.'
And, according to marketing folk, psychographics (how old you feel) are often more important than demographics (how old you are). So, for example, you may be pushin' 90, but if you feel 30, you'd be considered part of the 18-34 psychographic.
Which is useful when it comes to selling people stuff, but imagine what the same principal could do for your dating options. It might seem inappropriate for a 40-year-old to date a 20-year-old but if the 40-year-old is only 30 psychographically and the 20-year-old is 25 psychographically, age-wise, they just might be a perfect match.
Of course, people don't need clever marketing formulas to justify their dating choices when it comes to age. Most of us make up our own.
'As long as it's not ?dad' territory,' a lovely, young actress friend tells me of her age-limit criteria.
Family members seem to be a popular gauge on both ends of the scale: 'They have to be older than my younger brother,' another woman tells me.
Of course, it also depends on whether you're planning on doing more than sleeping with the person. 'I mean, is it just sex or am I going to have to have breakfast with the guy and attempt conversation?' a young woman in her 30s asks.
But, our middle-agish woman also had a problem with this distinction. 'Sleeping with people is a type of relationship, isn't it?'
'I just can't see myself hooking up with someone half my age when I'm 40,' said one of several male friends, contradicting the stereotype that all men want younger women as they approach middle age. 'You need that compatible life experience.'
Having said that, however, as a friend in Vancouver so aptly put it, 'It is still a great ego boost when a guy ten years younger than you makes it quite apparent that he's got it bad for you!'
Which begs a whole new marketing term.
Yes, boss, I've got the latest would-you-do-me-graphics right here.
What's your age-difference limit? Ever date anyone much younger? Much older? How did things work out?
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