Thunder I am very impressed with your words....You sound like my sons...good for you. My oldest didn't get involved until he was 29 had his career in gear, and then met a lovely young woman who has a 3 year old son. He loves kids. But also knew that he was certainly not prepared when he was younger...
And in all actuality it is not fair to the children to go into a relationship when your not ready...Good for you!
As far as the age difference, I see many people saying age is just a number...I myself feel that is true to a point, but having to look at all the variables involved before looking at it as just a number
Good luck to you, I am sure you will find someone that is great for you, when the time is right

Here's something I've discovered, just a personal experience, that a lot of people my age seem to be having.

The dating sites. I've been on many. They ask you to indicate an age range, what I found was this.

a 21 year old will often enter 21 to 99
a 25 year old 21 to 35
a 30 year old 25 to 40
a 35 year old 25 to 45
a 40 year old 30 to 50
a 45 year old 30 to 50
a 50 year old 35 to 50
a 55 year old 35 to 54

When and why to we suddenly start lowering the high end of the spectrum? I find it highly amusing that anyone would date someone 20 or more years younger, but will only look at someone, up to their own age?

I think us old folks never feel as old as everyone our age looks.

hmmmmm so i would be in the more interesting and amazing category then hahhahhahhahhahhaha

age shouldnt be an issue... what is in the persons heart and how they treat you is whats important

at least to me anyhow

I usually put 18-24, myself.

Hey Red! I never put 35...goodness! That's only 4 years older than my son
I would say 5 years younger than I would be my limit...alot still have children at home...Don't get me wrong...I like children...I've just served my time

WildFlower, I totally understand where you're coming from on that. But I think if love were so easily controlled as to allow us to put limitation, exceptions and physical preferences, before the heart can be given, then it wouldn't be the surprising, amazing, fulfilling thing that it is.

There is no accounting for the attraction of the hearts desire.

23 maybe 24

Age is irrelevant to me.

At 22 I was always more interested in women "of a certain age"
Im so pleased, now Im 40 that I was right 20 years ago.

Red...your words are true...although I was speaking of controlling it before getting to that point I guess I've turned into an ole grump

ahem!! cough...cough well i could comment but i dont want no time outs again lol so yea me keeping mum

(((HBK)))

lol :) yea i fear that timeout thingy lol and you always say that like my mom does even till date lol

Moms have a secret society

hey when did Sweetiepie let you out of your corner?

yea well lol she went to get her teeth fixed so mwahahaha

LMAO! "TIMEOUT!"

awwwwww

No crying! You brought it on yourself

what did i do? i was just gonna say stuff for the topic lol you always have to give me time outs

awwwwwww

i keep a very open-mind - just would not want to miss out on that one special person
recently have dated people from 18 to 52