Why all the focus on age?
If potential guy is attracted you and you feel the same, then why would you consider age (either side of your own) a barrier.
Fwiw, just over twenty years ago I met a guy I became just mates with.
He was easy to talk to, and despite him being eighteen years younger (as I discovered later) he displayed a maturity that made conversation easy.
However, his enthusiasm for life, fun and adventure was refreshing after having had past “relationships” that quickly became non events, as those males who were of a similar age to me, quickly seemed to settle into a routine where they just didn’t bother to win me over, so to speak, once the first flush of meeting/dates were over….
However, although I had no expectations of my friendship with the younger guy, a couple of years later, we were yakking away as per usual, and it seemed, all of a sudden, I was in his arms and kissing!
My dc was roughly ten years younger, but had already left home…. but honestly, I was told, “mum, if you are happy, then don’t worry, coz I wouldn’t want you telling me who I could go out with”.
Said guy is still (very much) in my life. A lot of years later, he moved in with me.
We are both so happy, and there’s hardly a day goes by without him causing me to crack up with laughter.
He feels that our maturities have “met up in the middle”, and we have so much to offer each other from our individual life experiences.
I’m not saying one should purposefully seek out an age difference relationship, but certainly don’t dismiss the opportunity of a match made in heaven, simply coz you won’t be conforming to the usual age gap.
Btw, his mum is slightly older than me, and despite my trepidation of finally meeting her, she’s great, and we occasionally go out for the day with each other.
Although it shouldn’t matter anyway, we have been lucky that both of our families have never uttered any disapproval….
Go with the flow, and stay aware…. Just as you would in any blossoming friendship or relationship.
xx