What can I do to find the right partner

[DreamyPeachReader]

Ladies, firstly I’m a male and I have read many of your threads and like the way you discuss issues openly. Men would never be this open.
Recently I lost my wife of 46 years and am facing a lonely future alone. At the age of 73 I did not expect this. I have visited dating sites but they just seem to want money by sending spurious leads. I am due to start at the local gym in January which should help take my mind off my loneliness. I would appreciate any suggestions.

You horrible, horrible, rude person. You go for a walk off a short pier

Dance classes e.g. jive are absolutely thrilled to have male participants. Could this be something you could or would want to do? Can be immensely fun and uplifting and you never know who you might meet :)

Two widowed male relatives in their early 70s found their second wives on the Our Time site already mentioned

Very interesting comments, some are kind others are destructive. I’m amazed how a single male in there 70’s, is being written off, all this silly talk about walking the dog. I own my own home have a reasonable pension am mobile and active and what’s more “there’s still life in the old dog” and
“ there’s many a fine tune played on an old fiddle” I just need to find the bow.

I'm 55 and looking for a man my age or younger tbh. I think women age better than men. My grandma always told me it's better to be a young man's darling than an old man's nursemaid. So perhaps keep that in mind and look for someone your own age.

I'd also say that older women who are free are not looking for anyone who doesn't have their own life and interests. So work on opening up your friendship groups and hobbies first. You need to bring something good to the table for a woman to consider you.

To be honest I think men and women both look for younger partners.
This plays out ok when women in their 20s and 30s are happy to date and marry men 10 or more years older.
Trouble is, the expectation continues on the part of men as they age.
Single women 45+ who have had a long term relationship with marriage and kids often look at the men who want to date them and go "nah, I'll pass thanks!" Most smart financially stable women in this age group (let's say 44-65) know that getting a man their own age to date them is probably a non starter (these men all want younger women)
So they take a decision to NOT date the single men aged (55-75) who still want a younger model. These women are choosing to be single as a better option.
A stalemate if you like. Who wants to be a nurse with a purse?

I am sorry your wife has died, and understand your fears about loneliness. (I met my 2nd husband as we sang in the same choir and had widowhood in common; we were in our 60s and still working. It wd be harder no we are older.) Look around for opportunities to meet real people (U3A, church, volunteering; specialist interest groups). To make the day to day less lonely, practice being a friendly person: smile, say hello to people in shops, say a few words to those you meet on a walk. Join groups. And never turn down invitations; you are unlikely to be asked again. Good luck..

Stop it. Ye is not too old for the gym at all. I'm almost 60 and fully intend to be going to the gym in my 70s

My husband is 73.he goes to the gym 4x per week

Why are you looking for someone of a specific age?
Can you not see that your fixed view on what age people should be will be exactly the same as women looking at you and thinking you are too old.
Does that seem right. Do you see yourself as an old past it, fuddy duddy? If not then why apply this to women over a certain age?

Quite right OP. Now maybe apply that thinking to women of your own age?

I think you've misunderstood my suggestion about walking a dog and am not sure why you think it's silly or age-inappropriate to you. Where I live, people with dogs congregate around local cafes and green spaces in the mornings - it's quite a social scene and would help with the loneliness you say you're experiencing.