I had a deal with my birth mother prior to when I got married:  I wouldn't date anyone older than she, and she wouldn't date anyone younger than I.  We each got one exception.  Mine was Charlotte Rampling, and hers was George Clooney (though it turns out Clooney is a bit older than I).

More to the point, age is a number.  It doesn't necessarily reflect maturity or even physical condition.  I suspect there are men you are ten years older than you who are in excellent shape and men who are ten years younger who can carry a conversation.  I've had lovers born between 1950 and 1976, and the quality of the experience had no correlation to age (though the >40 ones were uniformly good in bed).

I will agree with profrobert that age is a number, and may not necessarily reflect maturity or condition. A case or three in point:  I ran into Dana Delaney earlier last year and mistook her for someone in her mid to late thirties - she is apparently fifty-four.  An old friend from secondary school at forty years and three children is far lovelier than she was at seventeen.  The fastest and fittest men in my old cycling club were all pushing fifty.  In spite of what life throws at them, some get better as they get older.  Conversely, the minimum age for maturity and worldliness seems to be thirty, although I have met many mature adults much younger than that.  

I happen to fall just north of your age range, and so I just went and checked the photographic evidence -- and, fuck me, I was indeed better looking at 30.  

The only people I ever have arguments with (in my head) as I look through the personals are the ones who have insanely small age ranges.  

Funny, I've always wanted a younger wife and an older girlfriend.

When you're thinking 50 maybe your thinking approaching elderly but this is the peak of a person's life careerwise usually. If people take care of themselves they can be in great condition.

Some people do look better older than they did younger, however espec for celebrities that still look as if they were in their 20s and 30s when they are actually around 40/ 50 and beyond takes a lot of maintenence - ie jabs, nips and tucks as well as the water, sleep etc.

Have noticed loads of guys specify age ranges that give a lot in the younger parameter - (think 30s guy specifying 18 girl ok :0), but hardly at all in the older parameter. Quite a few even specify not someone their own age - ie only younger!!??

Yes, yes we are all open-minded, tolerant people but let's not surrender ourselves completely to the silly "age is just a number" notion. We all know how that hackneyed term is bull; we just keep it around for when we need it like when you fall for the cougar, fleece the older gentleman, or for the typical paramour.

Funny how sexist, Zeitgeisty/ men-- demand 'open-mindedness' when THEY expect 10 years minimum --younger dates, but refuse women their exact age

no matter her condition, as too Old--double standards/sexist brainwash/men fearing their mortality and thinking they can be Young by Association when they are just an Old F#@k with a Younger Woman, same as Beauty by Association does not work except by feeble minds, and women are 'narrow-minded' bitches

giving men are hard time if they don't date 10 years older--Please, take a look at yourselves!

People will date whomever is attractive, quit the propoganda Zeitgeisty, of wimmin better take the old guys--they'll do what they want, including turning up their nose just like you do, in your delusions of grandeur

So how do you feel about 30 year old men who might find YOU gross cause you're in your forties?

Are you going to think you're gross in a few years when you reach 50?

When I was 20 I dated a man 20 years my senior. When I was 30 I dated men about 5 years on either side of it. Now that I am 40 and going to settle down, I chose a man who happens to be 2 years younger then me- however- chose is a perjorative term- I fell for him like a ton of bricks and had no real choice in the matter.

All of these men, particularly the one I dated at 20 taught me interesting and wonderful things about the world and myself. If you are fortunate enough to be loved by someone you respect- then age is indeed just a number.

...or maybe it's someone who's emotionally available, can plough you like a field, read to you ee cummings or yates in bed, and who's always up for a game of twister while eating pb&j's - and never tells you their age...

i dated guys in their 40's when i was in my 20's. all of the guys i dated before my ex were older (including my ex) and since we split, i've trended toward younger (even one "cougar" experience with a 21 year old!!) the older guys i dated since were too old acting, too protective, tried to hard to "take care of me", and loved to tell me their net worth.  the younger guys (especially the guy i'm with now) appreciate the fact that i don't "need" them to take care of me, i'm independent, and i didn't ask them about their 401ks on the first date (or any date, for that matter).

I also think age is just a number...to a point.

I've always gotten along better with people who are a few years younger than me. I'm about to be 47, and my best friend and his wife are in their early 30's.

As for romantic or intimately, again, I get along better with younger, but I have a rule of "half my age or older"

But maybe thats just because I'm a horny bastard.

When I see the rare ad in which a woman wants nothing to do with a man a year or two older, I think, "Good -- give us a little taste."