Believer,

This one's for you -- my favorite Andy Rooney piece. (It has inspired me to wear red lipstick everyday as my badge of honor.)

Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value
older women most of all.
Here are just a few reasons why.

An older woman will never wake you in the
middle of the night to ask,
"What are you thinking?" She doesn't care
what you think.

An older woman knows herself well enough to be
assured in who she is, what she is, what she
wants and from whom. Few women past the age
of 50 give a damn what you might think about her.

An older single woman usually has had her fill
of "meaningful relationships" and "commitment."
The last thing she needs in her life is
another dopey, clingy, whiny, dependent lover!

Older women are dignified. They seldom have a
screaming match with you at the opera or in
the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course,
if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you
if they think they can get away with it.

Most older women cook well. They care about
cleanliness and are generous with praise, often undeserved.

An older woman has the self-assurance to introduce
you to her women friends. A younger woman with
a man will often ignore even her best friend
because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.
Older women couldn't care less.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to
confess your sins to an older woman. They always know.

An older woman looks good wearing bright red lipstick.
This is not true of younger women or drag queens.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, an older
woman is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Her libido's stronger, her fear of pregnancy gone.
Her experience of lovemaking is honed and reciprocal
and she's lived long enough to know how to please
a man in ways her daughter could never dream of.
(Young men, you have something to look forward to.)

Older women are forthright and honest.
They'll tell you right off you are a jerk if you
are acting like one.

Yes, we praise older women for a multitude of
reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.
For every stunning, smart, well-coifed babe of 70
there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants
making a fool of himself with some 22 year
old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize for all of us.

That men are genetically inferior is no secret.
Count your blessings that we die off at a far
younger age, leaving you the best part of your
lives to appreciate the exquisite woman you've
become, without the distraction of some demanding
old man clinging and whining his way into your serenity."

Good one Pieta.

I'm 54.

believer, glad you're here so I don't have to be the oldest woman, LOL! I'll be looking forward to hearing about your dating experience because, hopefully, I'm not far behind you.

pieta, Thanks for that.

I'm 38 for a little while longer. 40 sounds scary, but on the other hand, you know you're a woman and not a girl at 40. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm 48 & feeling great. Hey I'm a poet & I didn't even know... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm 52, at the moment.

Holding my own. My mother - who is 78 - still has some of her natural hair color, so things bode well for me.

Newly & Still~~

Have the two of you ever wondered if OUR K's are the same??

K!

42 and hanging on for 11 more days!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm 48...I'm glad some of the "over 40s" posted; there are more than I realized here!

I'm glad a handful of fellow "over 50's" posted as well.

If my quick count is correct, 23 people responded so far, ages range from 35 to 57, the average age is 43, the median age is 41, there are seven 30-somethings, eleven 40-somethings, four 50-something, and 35% are between 40-42.

So tell us, Justin, what do you think are the generational differences? I see differences about children: wanting them and the "biological clock", having young or teenaged children and how they fit in with dating, children who are grown and flown, or not having children.

What else?

LetSTry, I think there are several differences that hold true as a group. Obviously, the individualism still rules.

There is the biological clock, of course, and the fact that in the 50's the kids are usually adults and often out of the house. IN the 40's they may still be minors , but are often old enough that problems like finding a babysitter are not longer an obstacle to getting out.

A bigger issue I am finding is that 50+ people tend to have their own home, some money in the bank, retirements plans and so on. As such, they are cautious about who they link up with. If you have saved for 30 years, do you want to link up with somebody with few assets and a lot of debt? Most people would not, IMHO, despite "true love". In other words, we tend to be more practicial.

Another issue is the number of divorces. I have met a number of women who have been divorced 2 or 3 times. They are very cautious about getting into a serious relationship and very gun-shy of getting married.

Another issue is children. Many older people are concerned how their children will view a new partner and a new spouse. After all, children are permanent, and as we all know, spouses have a way of dissappearing on us in a most unpleasant way.

Example: a friend of mine has been divorced for 3 years. He lost his house in the divorce but did keep a pension. He has a g/f who has been divorced twice. She still works, has a good pension plan, and owns a very nice home. He wants to move in with her in the worst way. She is putting him off, delaying things. Her official reason is that she is worried his children will not accept her. But, I also think it is that fact that he is materially worse off than she, and that she has already been divorced twice. What works in his favor, is time. As time passes, there are more single women and less single men. So maybe he will get his wish some day.

Another age issue is the older men tend to not make friends very easily. Women are great at the friendship thing. But, for some reason, past 50 men stop chumming around with their buddies. I know from my own experiences that I can find a woman to have coffee with, share dinner with, or go shopping with a lot easier than I can find a guy to do the same thing. Older men tend to get VERY set in their ways.

I am doing my best to remain open to new male friends. I like my life better that way and I think the women notice it and approve.

I hope everyone here doesn't make the mistake of overlooking a possible mate because of age or circumstances.

When my kids were younger, I dated a nice guy for 3 years. We had lots in common and got along very well. But his friends at work kept telling him that I was just looking for a "father" for my boys, and a meal ticket.

I always tried to pull my weight financially, although he was an electrical engineer, and made 3 times my salary.

In the end, we decided not to get married.

A year later, he married a lady with no children. Get this - they stayed married exactly 1 year, and she ended up with part of the new house they bought, and a brand new Lincoln. Sheesh, we dated longer than they were married.

Now he is alone and rather bitter. I ran into him at the store last month and went over to see his place. But it was a little late for me.

Justin, I know there are specific issues for each different set of circumstances such as age, sex, kids, location, etc.

Altho' I'm not dating, I fear that when my divorce is final it will be hard to meet anyone because I'm a woman over 50, I live out in the boonies, my business takes up a lot of my time, and just because I'm more an introvert than an extrovert (INFP for anyone interested).

From what I read here, each person has his/her own unique set of circumstances that are more difficult for them such as long distance relationships, difficult kids, difficult X's, even too many dates! But, we also all seem to share the same fear of rejection and the same hope of getting it right the next, and hopefully last, time. This is probably heightened by the shared experience that brought us all to MB in the first place.

Another age-related difference I hate to mention is health. I don't remember having any health problems at 40, but now I have several and anticipate the number and severity increasing with age - hope that's not too negative.

I'm 34...my Husband just turned 30... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I'm not so sure that age changes the dynamic of dating..I think it's mostly circumstance. For instance, I'm the same age as most of the people here (more or less), but I don't have children. I think being childless makes dating easier because potential partners don't see any "baggage". I think many men anticipate problems when children are involved. I know many of them DREAD the constant tie to the ex.

Sad but true.

Oh aeri, I agree!
I don't have any kids either. Right now I'm dating a 45 yo that has a DS3, and a couple more older...
The thought of getting involved with someone with a child that young, also, the tie to the ex... ugh!
At this point it doesn't appear that I WILL have children (just my age and circumstances-since I'm only dating and will be 40 next year and am NOT going to rush into anything...)
So yes, the kids and their ages and circumstances are an issue, as well as what else is going on in their lives...
I didn't even think about the health issues, but you are so right LetsTry!!
It seems that as we get older we have MORE baggage than less, which I guess makes sense, but shouldn't it be the other way around?
That we are old enough to deal with our baggage and let it go rather than continue to add on?!

Many times!

Take care and God bless!

K

Oh, Aeri, 34 YO. Will we hear about a new baby soon, since we still see the wedding pictures?

I am 32. I am still trying to make my marriage work.
Stormy

I'm 48 and do not look forward to the "fifties"...I truly don't want to age..I don't the creaks, wrinkles, grays, etc. I'm happy just the way I am..I have tons of energy and can't imagine "having" to slow down..