how much age difference can u handle?

I see a lot of complaints about matches and how people don't get any or very few. Are you all looking for younger men or women? What is your age limit set at? How much older a mate would you settle for? 5 yrs ? 10 yrs ? 15?? I see lots of older guys on EH. I'm 42, and would not mind a guy being 10 yrs older than me. And if I really felt the "soul mate" buzzer in my stomach, I may even go older. Would you rather have a good looking man but a dead relationship, or an older man who would give you the best you could imagine?

I judge each match individually. One of the most interesting and compatible on interests and values was 32 years younger. I have a match your age who from her profile would hold great promise on compatibility but in real life she has four children from 5 to teens. Between her job and her kids school, practice/games she has no free time.

It really depends on your age and then on your and your matches circumstances what age range you should be looking at.

I don't think one should have a hard and fast rule about an age limit because everyone is so different. For that reason I date men in the age range of 30-50. I have met men my age who act like they are 80. I dated a guy who was 56 who was like he was 30. We had a lot of things in common and were very compatible. However not every guy my age acts old an not every 56 year old is active and young. You'll never know whats out there unless you keep an open mind.

+/- 10 but thats on a case by case basis depending on how annoying she is

+1

or rather, how annoying she isn't. Right, LSS? : )

It all depends on you and your date. I have always said age is just a number. As long as both people are over the age of majority they should be free to date whoever they want.

absolutely ma'am =0))

Good for you, LSS and Brownize, very refreshing and sensible posts. I am on the outer boundaries at 66, but as you may sense from my four month old photo, I pass for 50ish all day, every day...and in mind and spirit as well. After some months on eH, I have experienced every facet of ageism(sp?), the most common of course by being closed out forthwith...the shame of it, 'tho, and as I say in my eH profile, not eHad's, is that not one of the dismissives would come even remotely close to guessing my age if we were introduced on the street or any other casual encounter, I get sorta hit on quite often by attractive younger women in public, the subtle stuff, and I'm nobody's fool...just not very good at dealing with it at the time...in some ways it's sorta like being a freak of nature or genetics, but absolutely no one thinks, on meeting, I'm much over 50. I said some time ago on the threads that I'd like to experiment with a big fib, but I already know the answer...if I put up my apparent age instead of being honest, I'd go so far as to suggest I'd be considerably more successful in getting at least to the communication stage. Then my chronic rudeness could and would be a very sound reason to dismiss me. But this age and age alone bias is very daunting, and very, very discouraging, 'cause unlike my rudeness, there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. But bless your hearts for saying what you did, gives all us old codgers hope...b.

Age is but a number. It's all in how you treat it that matters. If you are an immature a-hole, it doesn't matter how old you are.

good question if they tell the truth. LOL i agree with Brownize and Altair. to me age doesn't matter as much as how active the person is. or the way they act. myself i am very active, love the outdoors and love new places and doing new things. but some have age boundaries. i figure i am better off not wasting my time with them anyway. to me they are superficial people. the more boundaries we put up the least likely we will find the person that could be right for us....just my opinion

To those who have indicated a desired age range but indicate it is on a case by case basis.

1. Have you set your matching age range much wider and/or importance to not very and then use you mental desired range to determine who stays and who goes?

2. Have you set your age range much wider than what you desire and then communicate with those who are outside your desired age range to determine if they are compatible?

I've set my age range +-5yrs. (I'm 32)

My reasoning, and no doubt there are exceptions to the rule, is that I'm am very active. Exercising 2-3 hours a day, I enjoy very active holidays, my next trip is Mt Everest Base Camp. Now while I don't expect my "partner" to join me an a 23 day high altitude trek for a "vacation", my previous relationship was one that had energy levels at the opposite ends. I would be up at 5am for a run/cycle, she would sleep in till 10am (on w/e).

As I said there are exceptions to the rule, because (before someone comments) my ex is the same age as me.

I think the 10 year spread is an appropriate "physical attribute" filter to find someone that has the same energy levels.

Ah, it's good to see you playing nice phantom... 66 wouldn't bother me at all. As long as you can keep up with me, then I'll be happy. ;)

I'm 49 and while on eH dating, had my range set to +/- 10 years. No comments there.

Met a guy a couple of months ago who is in his early 70's and still in great shape; but alas, he's gay, is now a friend and I can never have enough friends.

For me, I think that it depends on the individual.

Jeez, my post didn't show up...must be in the modded quarters. Perhaps because of my 70? g a y friend who's in really great shape. I enjoy seeing you play nice now, phantom. I'm 49 and I wouldn't have a problem with a 66 yr old, as long as he can keep up with me. ;)

When on eH, I had my range set for +/- 10 yrs. Really didn't do much good...but, then again.. Must have been the 29 compatibility rules. Phist....

I agree 100+ % Age is but a number, if depends on the chemistry and if you click! The question of the day is what are you willing to settle for? =)

Can he walk the walk or just talk the talk hummmm

I'm looking for a long term partner so I want someone close to my own age. I know that there are no guarantees that we will all live to old age but why stack the deck against yourself by choosing a partner much older than yourself.

I'm 31. I'm finishing grad school and getting my career into high gear. I'd like someone at a similar stage in life, not someone close to the end of their career and starting to think about retirement. I tried dating a few guys who were older and (not to be too personal) but I found they just couldn't keep up with me in the bedroom department. That was just simple age and biology. The little blue pills do not make it all better.

My general rule is that if the guy is closer in age to my dad than to me, he's too old for me.