Haha! Guys on here like "I want a much younger woman,its biologically dictated!" Blech

I prefer younger men.

Why: Spend all most all of my time with younger people. I very much have allowed myself to change and the generations have come before me. And I like 35 year old men.

I just set mine to the max and min, and let the chips fall where they may.

I prefer younger men. I can't help it, I'm not attracted to men my own age.

I realised after a while I don't have to justify my preference, because men have been dating and marrying younger women for centuries.

The algorithms on this site ignore any age preferences set. Ideally algorithms should match people by their chosen age preferences first rather than matching automatically by similar age.

I've always gravitated toward older women, because they are generally more interesting, and intelligent, not to mention, more inclined to be real... But here I am, in middle age, desiring younger women- probably because they're more sexual.

Of course they matter. There is a power balance,generally rooted in age and wealth. There is also the difficulty of truly connecting with someone of a different generation and completely different set of experiences. Lack of balance and inability to connect are BIG relationship killers IMO.

I’m not strict about it but it generally sorts out that the people I’m interested in fall into roughly Five years either side of me. Boringly common but demonstrably true.

Considering that I am 74 and I've outlived so many people already, my choices now are mostly younger women. However, I've always preferred an older woman with silver or white hair. Always, even when I was in my twenties I had a "girlfriend" in her fifties because she was so much more sophisticated and worldly, she didn't chew gum with her mouth open and worship rock idols. We could relate at levels equally about things that I enjoyed too. Some much younger women were attracted to me but I turned them down because they seemed so shallow in their attitudes toward men, sex, art and many other things.

Age gaps are unimportant to me so long as I mesh with the person in other important ways. I am 39 and my husband is 53. We have been together for over 18 years. We mesh well intellectually, socially, sexually, and in so many other ways. We have similar morals and values. We have compatible life and family goals. We are different in enough ways that we enrich each other. I enjoy reading, gardening, and cooking. He does not enjoy any of those things but is supportive of my desire to spend time, attention, and money on these hobbies. We work well together, no matter what the project. We can openly and honestly be our true, unabridged selves with each other and this is very important to me in any personal relationship.

Being as simplistic as I may...At 85 there are so few options available for dating, for living together, or sexual companionship....you have to either dry up, kill your desires, or go outside the comfort zone...if it's 20 or 30 years younger, if both of you are in agreement, it's fine...Mrs. Robinson has her place in life, as does a Mr. Robinson.

There are members of both sexes, who may have "daddy, or mommy," issues where dating can provide them a safe place in life...even dating within a matter of hours in age, differences in being raised, cause conflict...I have always just gone for it and shared time with absolutely amazing people, some as much as 40 years older and 30 years young, it's people folks, not calendars...........

My rule of thumb is that if someone is dating or married to someone young enough to be their child, it is a bit creepy.
I don't doubt that their are legitimate and strong relationships built on the so called "May to December" age gap, but I cannot see what they can possibly have in common.
Years ago I dated a woman eight years younger than me and it was not a pleasant experience, though we liked one another, she understood none of my terms of reference, nor I hers, our tastes in films, music, culture were vastly different and so were our expectations of one another.
I can only imagine a 16+ age difference would be so much worse.

First - I'm 72 and retired -- It would be creepy to date a woman younger than my daughter! Younger may look better, but it's hard to match activity levels - and if she's working and I'm retired, there's tension that's not needed. So - let's say 5 to 7 years younger and the limiting upside isn't there, but say 5-7 years.

Your age, retirement situation, health etc. may set your limits more than an absolute dicta.

What a great question. I am 73 years old and proud of it! I would love to meet a man my age or a few years older for companionship and maybe more. Women friends are welcome at any age. When I date a younger man I just feel weird. As we get older we may get sick and that is something to consider also in someone and ourselves. Some couples do really well with age gaps.

I over look younger ladies as I feel like I could never connect with them mentally. I like my partner because she is roughly my own age and we share many life experiences and have a lot in common. I couldn't go too much older either as I would feel intellectually inadequate. I guess I am past the sake of fucking for fucking and always looking for more. I never did understand the huge age gap attraction and just think of it as father or mother compensation. eww...

Ive never been with a woman I would consider my senior. Sure a few years difference either way is fine. But the way I figure it I will be with a woman in her fifties when I'm in my seventies until then +- 5 years is my parameter.

@SACatWalker
Mickey Rooney was married to 8 women taller than he. Dudley Moore was married to Susan Anton. John Stamos was married to Rebecca Romjin Stamos. Pamela Anderson dated David Spade, Fred Durst, Scot Baio, all shorter than her. I am 5'0' & dated a shorter man. That is not the issue.

To a point yes. Funny, all my long term relationships were the same age (7 years my junior). My dad was 12 years older than my mom and my late partner's first husband likewise 12 years. My daughter is 43 and anything in that decade is a big turn off. It is a hard question because I have seen women in their late 50's or early 60's that looked a lot older and women who were in their late 60's who looked a lot younger. To me it is about maturity and health above all. Many questions are complex ones looking for simple answers.

I'm 34 and would prefer someone 30+ but under 45. Close to my age. Having grown up in the same decades, experiencing many of the same events at the same times in our lives. Similar childhood memories, even if we had vastly different upbringings. I feel like there's a lot of common ground.

I'd of said yes and some may take this in a way not intended. I'm 47 years old and while I do have a cut off point still. There was a time when it was higher age wise. Then last year I was approached by the most beautiful redhead I'd ever had the pleasure of meeting. (I adore redheads). Anyhow she turned out to be 26 and I was very leery, but a friend said I had nothing to lose so we started seeing each other. Honestly she was one of the most mature women I'd ever dated. (Shes from the Netherlands but was in California for school). We ended up splitting for reasons I won't mention here, but it was in her best interest. Anyhow she's recently started teaching out to me again and I have to admit that if the opportunity presents itself I'd join up with her again faster than one can blink. I know I'll never meet another quite like her ever again!

This is a most interesting topic for discussion, and I don't know if I have any answers that will mesh with any or all of others of you in the audience. Basically, I believe it depends a lot on physical age, mental age, emotional age, past experiences, present experiences, brainwashing, commercial marketing, past activities, activities we presently enjoy doing, people we've met along the way, almost an infinitesimal number of factors. It may even be that the more "complex" a person is - the more varied the persons that he or she may be attracted to. On the other hand, some may be swayed more by plain old physical, mental, emotional and spiritual factors. As for me, I find myself attracted to many women (the opposite sex) for so many reasons and because of so many different activities of mine I am an activist - for the environment and for Hawaiian culture and independence.
And I'm some kind of imposter. I am older than the age that I claim to be. My physical health, the activities I participate in, my mental state of mind, the people I run into in my principal activities, all result in impacts on me of the ladies I enjoy hanging around with, and those that I fall in love with - both altruistically and/or emotionally, and including so many other factors, values and beliefs.
In retrospect, I am affected by stuff that happened in the big war - World War II. Having been forced to survive blackouts, shortages of food, other commodities, personal freedom, etc., have all affected me. Attending a male-only, military primary school also made a difference. So has the discovery of my history (emotional as well as political) - and of others who may be in similar situations. These all have had an affect on some/many of my relationships. The range of female ages that I am exposed to in my everyday life go from the 20s to the 70s - in so many different combinations of values, backgrounds (including age and education), races, domestic situations, even patriotism, their personal relationships, their attributes, their wants and needs. It's mind boggling.
Romantically - I prefer mid-60s women - on the average, young enough to be physically active (to my liking), and old enough to be mentally and emotionally stable and enjoyable. However, in this activity, many of the contributions to discussions are carried out by women in their 50s, so even though they are younger than my preferred age range, I find them to be very interesting. What is a guy to do?
Physicality, emotionality, mentality are also important factors. As for me, as a camper, hiker, part time subsistence farmer, etc., I want and need "active" people in my life. It would be most difficult to be hiking the high mountains (above 10,000 feet), for instance, with a partner who is restricted to the use of crutches or cane. Or to spend hours in mental anguish, studying legal briefs, laws, rules and regulations, that seem to be a lot of what I like to do.
My being part Asian and part Pacific Islander (Hawaiian) adds another layer of complexity. Being financially trained (some time on Wall Street), scientifically trained (major in chemistry) and legally trained (JD) add yet other layers. The simple soup becomes a stew of interesting range and complexity.
For example (whether you agree with the principles in which I operate or not) - I recently experienced a great legal victory. It would be nice for a partner of mine, for instance, to appreciate all the time and effort that was expended in this one activity - and be able to share in the accomplishment. Others may feel that this all was plainly just a waste of time and effort. So, if you're interested - check out the following link - file:///Users/UncleKu/Downloads/getPart%20(1).pdf For explanation - i am Clarence Ching, many times referred to as Uncle Ku. And my handle - mkeaman - is short for Mauna Kea Man - Mauna Kea being my favorite mountain (13,796 feet). Maxine is one of my patriotic buddies (even though this suite is more environmental and cultural) - age 79.
So after the above introduction to the question (don't know if what I wrote makes sense or not), maybe the next question is even more mind-boggling.
What is love? It's truly not only sex for sure.

Reality dictates what one can get away with.

If "potential romantic partner" equates to who you want to have sex with then the younger the better from a male point of view. I married a woman five years older and another twelve years younger. The younger would have not married me if I had not had a college degree and been able to provide financial stability. I did not find this objectionable and would have respected her less had she not considered those factors.

If "potential romantic partner" equates to longterm commitment then the age gap must narrow to accommodate outside the bed. My experience, women my age tend to more inhibited therfore limiting enjoyment of life in general. Products of how society was during the time in which we grew up.

Setting my parameters we're based on this. Opening the door to a much younger women is not likely realistic but what the heck. Could be one or two out there tired of being used by the younger fuck boy. One or two looking for something more meaningful, consistent income and someone willing to work hard at making her feel she is special.

I think 10 years either way is ok and probably as far as i would personally go

I don’t discriminate on age. If there are mutual interest and attraction then it makes no difference to me. Most women I’ve had relationships with have been younger than myself. I generally adhere to the Italian Method which is half your age plus seven. Recently had a relationship with a 31 year old. But would date someone older if they can keep up with my kinkiness.

For me it is a priority to meet someome within my age range. Someone much younger (20 years) turned into a disaster. After sex there wasn't much to share or talk about. I tried to explain how my day as a Deputy went, she wanted to tell me about her soap opera's as if they were real life. She liked Heavy Metal music I liked Classic rock. Her father was 3 years older than I was, her mom the same age. (awkward) She did give me my only child, a son who I adore. After 2 years she didn't like being a Mom, so she left. OK by me and I got to keep our son. I digress, Women my age can relate better. Granted they have also been hurt by a lot of bums out there so I do get prejudged. It's why I don't try and rush. Sometimes weeks of chat before a phone call another few weeks before a meet and greet. The Chemistry must be there, same with humor and wit. I need to see a twinkle in the eyes.

I would suggest that folks review this dialogue and note the insulting comments and assumptions about older women. Please avoid generalizations and derogatory comments; otherwise, we mature, sexy, available women may create a separate group of our own.