Our society is aging. As it does, those members of the population who are in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are no longer confining themselves to the sort of limited social behavior demonstrated by generations past. As is frequently said, 50 is the new 30, 60 is the new 40, and 70 is the new 50. A significant number of those who embrace the label of “senior” today and who find themselves without a romantic partner either due to divorce or from being widowed, are re-entering the dating scene.
Senior dating isn’t all about finding a long-term partner for their twilight years. Close to a third of all seniors who date do so with more casual intent in mind. This includes everything from casual sexual encounters to non-sexual friendships, to online hookups.
Dating as a senior involves many of the same joys and concerns common with dating in general regardless of age. However, there are a few unique things that should be kept in mind if you are a senior about to start dating again.
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1- Watch Out for the Phonies
Let’s face it, whether you are 21 or 71, there is always a chance that you will encounter someone who is disingenuous when you reenter the dating pool. When you are younger, it is easier to look past these dishonest people and continue your search until you find an honest and compatible partner. As you get older, however, sometimes you may overlook some of the warning signs of people who you should avoid.
If someone is significantly younger than you and all of a sudden displays tremendous interest in you, that person should be vetted for honesty. Likewise, if someone is becoming overly inquisitive about your assets and net worth, that should be a warning sign that calls out for added scrutiny.
You should also be wary of those who constantly bombard you with sob stories about family emergencies, personal financial distress, etc. In other words, you should avoid those who are more interested in your money than in you.
Source: SixtyandMe
2- Leverage the Internet
The internet is no longer an exclusive tool for the young. It is now just as normal for a 15-year-old to leverage the internet as it is for a 75-year-old. This means that seniors should not hesitate to jump on the online dating bandwagon.
There are many general-purpose dating sites as well as more specialized niche sites designed to serve the senior market. While there is nothing wrong with relying on trusted social circles and in-person establishments to meet potential dating partners, supplementing those circles with online dating platforms will greatly increase your chances of meeting a compatible partner.
3- Don’t Worry About What Others May Say
Being a senior means that you have in all likelihood lived a rich and fulfilling life. The amount of life experience that you have accumulated makes you far better suited to be the judge of how you should live your life going forward. This means that if you were to encounter friends or family who disagree with your desire to start dating again, you should respectfully marginalize their opinion. This does not mean that you should completely segregate them from your life, but you should most definitely make it clear that their negative opinion of your dating is not going to limit you from enjoying your life.
It is possible that a few people will shun you for your decision. However, you will be amazed by the number who will respect and support you in your decision even if they happen to disagree.
Source: SixtyandMe
4- Have an Active Retirement
Just a few decades ago the word “retirement” spawned visions of people sitting in repose watching TV or knitting. Fortunately, in the present day retirement sparks more lively images.
Dating in your retirement years avails you of many opportunities that you likely did not have when you were single and younger. You now have the time and resources to enjoy life more thoroughly in the company of somebody you care about.
This means that you can go on extended road trips, take cruises, or simply take off for a week on vacation. You can enjoy life to the fullest with your partner or partners.
5- Don’t Feel Like You Have to Settle Down
Some seniors feel guilty about reentering the dating scene. They feel that they should continue setting an example for their children, even though they have grown up, and limit themselves to finding partners solely to establish long-term relationships. While there is nothing wrong with that, if in your gut you feel that you want to experiment on the wild side, you should definitely do that as well.
There is nothing wrong, and there is no need to feel guilty if you want to spend a few months or years being involved solely with casual dating. You have lived a full life, if you wish to have multiple casual encounters at this stage in your life, you should go right ahead and do so.
Source: SixtyandMe
6- Age Is but a Number
We have already mentioned how, as a senior, if you started dating a partner who is much younger than you, certain precautions should be taken to make sure that you are not being played for your money. That being said, however, you should not completely disregard the notion of dating someone much younger than you either. If the both of you have truly hit it off, if you’re personalities are truly compatible, and you both enjoy the time that you spend together, you should not let age be a limiting factor.
Being adults, we also cannot discard the possibility that you may be interested in a younger partner not for sentimental reasons, but primarily for physical ones. It is not uncommon, and you should not feel embarrassed about, entering into a sugar daddy or sugar mommy type relationship. These are relationships in which the older partner provides, the younger partner with material benefit in exchange for physical benefits. As long as both parties are in agreement, nobody is getting played.
— The Bottom Line —
If you are a senior going back to the dating scene, it is normal to feel anxious or uncertain about what dating is like today. Fortunately, advances in technology and changing social norms have made dating for seniors much easier. Many of the stigmas of yesteryear are gone and seniors are free to enjoy their life as they deem fit. Take note of what we have mentioned here, apply your common sense which you have honed with life experience and enjoy yourself.
