This question was inspired by a meme I just saw, and my longtime crush on Brad Pitt, who’s 45 years older than me.
Youngest: my age. Oldest: if it’s someone in as good shape as Brad Pitt, the sky’s the limit.
No-one.
Absolutely no-one.
If I get widowed tomorrow, imma gonna stay single for the rest of my days.
Not only am I edging into that age where I am becoming increasingly cranky and unwilling to change for someone else (I have changed enough for my wife of 30 years), but I have also been keeping a light finger on what’s happening out there between the sexes, and holy shite that’s become one hell of a mess that I want absolutely nothing to do with.
I mean, the door isn’t going to be barred and locked. But it is going to be firmly closed and with a cinder block in the way. If someone wants through, they are going to have to demonstrate real effort in their pursuit of me.
But then again, I would be shocked AF if any woman thought pursuit of any kind wasn’t beneath them. So I guess my peace and quiet would be quite safe. Thank the lord.
I don’t date anymore, but I don’t subscribe to the idea that a lot of people think there is a formula to figure it out. I don’t hold a position of power or authority, so if there was a connection between me and another adult, the age doesn’t matter.
The youngest I’d go is 23 for a short term fling. If I was to end up in a relationship, I’d like someone in their mid to late thirties.
Yeah, a fling is different. Maybe I’d go 22 at the youngest if they don’t look too young and give an instant ick.
Not many choices is why lol.
25-38, maybe even 40’s?

I used that formula to half-jokingly look for a partner on my blog. And it worked. I was 22 and she was 27. “So old!” I thought back then. Didn’t help that she sent me a really ugly blurry photo. Still, I was desperate and liked our conversations.
Now we’re married and laugh about that “huge age gap”.
Joke answer: whomever my wife would let us.
Actual answer: I don’t know. I’m in my mid 40s. If I had to start over for some reason and was looking for a serious relationship, at least 30s as the minimum. Max would be low 50s, probably, though I’ve not thought a ton about it.
Actualer answer: if I ever lost my wife, I doubt I could/would pursue a serious relationship again or at least for a long enough time to make my answer above probably innacurate.
I think I’d be done for good.
This depends on what you mean by date
If you mean pursue a long term relationship, the answer probably is around 30 and 45
If you mean a short term fling or one time thing, the answer is 25 to probably 60. This depends a lot on their physical condition.
Edit: also, F38
Damn! We’d fit perfectly (ok, on the edges), if only I was in good physical condition /s
But seriously I totally agree, where I previously strongly preferred someone near to my age, that no longer seems as relevant.
- a short term thing would be purely physical. I wouldn’t be too picky
- a relationship would have to be about as active as me, similar interests, etc. one of the challenges is compatible sex drive and that gets harder with age
M<older>- probably consider 40-60 but would be suspicious of the ulterior motives of the younger ones
Half my age +7 and double my age -7
If you’re 20 thats great but I’m not dating a geriatric.
This is NOT the correct formula.
*edited
It is *alf your age +7 and Your age -7 doubled.
Shouldn’t the latter actually be “My age - 7, then doubled”? That’s the order of operations to find a number that matches the “half plus 7” rule.
For example, say you’re 66 and looking for the lowest age according to the first formula. 66/2 = 33. Then 33 + 7 = 40.
Which should mean that for a 40 year old, the upper age would be 66. If we do 40 - 7 = 33, then 33 x 2 = 66. These numbers match.
But if we followed OP’s formula, we’d end up with 73 instead. (40 x 2 = 80, and 80 - 7 = 73.) That’s a 9 year difference. Meanwhile, if we did “half plus 7” for a 73 year old, we’d get 43.5. The numbers don’t line up.
You are correct, I’m so used to seeing it I didn’t sanity check the whole thing. Your maximum = their minimum using the same rule.
So 28-77 for me… I’d prefer +/-7
Damn, works surprisingly well!
35-45 seems like a good range at the moment
No more than 10 years either direction. Would probably try to stay closer to 5 though. But really depends on their personality and their intelligence. I can’t date someone that can’t have an intelligent conversation or honestly believes easily disproven shit.
Meme in question:

Youngest: A mayfly, born this morning and destined to die this evening, which landed on my nose.
Oldest: A mountain with ancient bones, eroded by the aeons to a mere hill with sides of crumbling rock.
Oh you mean humans? Well, anyone between the ages of 47 and 52 I guess.
I only date people who are physiologically in their twenties but chronologically in their one hundred and twenties.
/I have a thing for time travelers.
Me too…where did you find these, “time travelers”?
Yesterday.
Vampires?
Between Age/2+7 and Age*2-14
“oldest? ok!” scribbling sounds (…and carry the 1)… oh. :-(
It’s a surprisingly effective equation. It basically works for everyone 14+, with just a little “not so sure” zone when you’re 20 and they’re 17. After that, it gets back on track.
Not unless you increment up from 14 once you get past fifty.
This
My dad is 98 and he started dating an 82-year-old. It seems to be going really well. She can’t drive and he still does so that probably increased his appeal.
Is he still mentally fit to drive at 98? Damn that’s impressive. You’ve got some good genes.
of course not. doesnt stop old people though
Generalizations like this are useless. Obviously there are exceptions. There certainly are people who retain a sharp mind into old age and even past age 100. It’s not that uncommon. If he also kept his body in good shape, it’s easy to believe he can still drive as well as anyone half his age.
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Yeah. I’ve started taking care of myself know that this body might have to do me for a long time. He’s also still doing woodworking. Makes amazing stuff.
Recently I had an operation and was in a semiprivate recovery room with a man who turned out to be 77. I’m 38. While chatting with each other to pass the time, I was on some pretty heavy painkillers. (He refused any pain remediation stronger than Tylenol. He was a veteran and, I suspect based on his reaction to any offerings, had seen friends succumb to addictions.)
Anyway, despite being drugged, I managed not to say the first two things that came to mind:
- “Wow, you’re almost exactly double my age!”
- “Whoa, that’s how old my dad was when he died.”
All that to lead up to … If you have any pictures to share, I’d love to see the creative works of a 98-year-old!


Top is 1/4 inch ash. He used a scroll saw for the little cutouts. Second is shapes cut out, painted, then glued onto a backing.
Those are wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
That’s awesome.









