Baby Boomers: Why Online Dating Is Great for the Gen-50

Whether you’re 50 or over, hovering around the big 50 or younger, if you decide to date someone 50, 60 or older, you are going to get a date with an individual who is not trying to figure out what to do with their life. They’ve done a lot of it already.

Gen-50 is not worried about having a child, the way men and women in
their 30s and 40s are. If you’re divorced with children, you are more likely to find a man who understands from experience what that is like, and similar experiences make things easier.

Gen-50 is financially set. There are very few financial surprises in this age range. They own their own home — or they don’t. You don’t have to guess about how a date’s “potential” will play out in reality. Same with women. For better or worse, they have money or they don’t. If you’re looking for a gal with green, you’ll know if you’ve got her. If you don’t care about the money honey, you’ll be able to be up front about it. A lot of the questions about the future you encounter dating men and women in their 30s and 40s disappear with men in their 50s.

Gen-50 women: Women 50 and over are much more secure in their sexuality, their personality, and are beautiful and sexy when they’re single in a different way than younger women. The sex can be very hot.

Gen-50 men: Their sex drive is not what it used to be, unless they have a V stash. This can be good news. If it isn’t, there is that stash.

Be the babe: If you’re in your 40s dating a man in his 50s or older, you can relax and be the babe. The competition is different. There is a much better chance that you will be the only one wearing a size six in his crowd of friends and their girlfriends, wives.

Gen-50 women understand that men are different. They sigh instead of see the when you throw your socks on the floor. Which you will do. Daily. If not twice daily. And you will leave the seat up. Sigh.

If after reading so far, you still feel like Julia Robert’s loser best friend instead of Julia Roberts about using online dating, here are the two best things about it:

1. Privacy—You don’t have to tell anyone you’re doing it until you’re ready.

2. You can ask for what you want instead of pretending you’re really
grateful when a friend fixes you up, instead of what you truly feel:
nervous that they’re introducing you to a dork that you have to be nice
to because even though he’s the dork, he’s your friends’ dork. Come
right out and say you want someone who can dance. You refuse to date a Republican. You absolutely want someone who is not tone deaf.

You can also get your own confessionals out up front. Yes you have eight children, but only two of them are in juvenile detention hall. Just kidding. You know what I mean.

You can be really specific about what you want without having to suffer dinner with someone you know is not right in the first ten minutes. You can find out what his job is, what his vacations are like, and whether he’s an Archie or a Jughead by asking before you decide whether or not to meet.

Flashing yellow:
Questions to ask before you even meet — advice from those who have been burned in non-online or online dating experiences:

Are you married? Do you live with a woman? When was the last time you lived with a woman? In other words — look out for men who are looking to get laid when you want the real thing. Don’t jump into bed with anyone. In fact, be more cautious. Ask them how many people they’re dating at once.

Meet at the restaurant or the movies until you feel comfortable having him come to your home. Tell a friend you’re going on an online date, and where you’re going, and ask them to check in with you that night.

Weed out anyone who has never been married by 50 or who has never lived with anyone long term by 50. You may have a virgin on your hands, but you may also have a committment-phobe.

Weed out anyone who is clearly on the rebound. Someone who just got separated last month and wants to get back into the dating world, is probably not right for you if you’ve been single for ten years now, and are ready for something serious.