the cougar concept

[Gato]

I definitely preferred dating younger men after I got divorced.  They were less bitter/had less baggage.  And most were just fine with the idea of dating an older woman.  At the time I was 32-35 dating 25-30 y.o. men, so nothing drastic.

[sweetchix]

I divorced when I was 36 and had a fling with a guy 10 years younger when I was 37 and more recently with a guy 13 years younger. It was nice while I wasn't looking for anything more than sex, but now that I'm kind of over that phase, I'm more interested in finding someone closer to my age.

ETA: and both guys really liked being with an older woman. It was a turn on for them.

[flatlan]

The last 2 guys I slept with are at least 10 years younger than me. A good time was had by all!

[mrsukyankee]

I've always dated younger guys (I'd say 90% were younger) though most were only 4-5 years younger. I was always hit on by younger guys (I look young). Biggest difference was me at 32 with a 22 yr old - that was not dating, really, just having fun. My H is 4 years younger and it works for us - I look younger than him anyway.

[dorothyinAus]

No personal experience but my BFF went from being married to a man 18 years older than her to dating a man 20 years younger than her. She says older was a huge mistake, but younger is fantastic, if you don't count his very traditional, very disapproving mother.

[mryrcn]

You do you honey. When I was single there were younger men, same age and older. I didn't necessarily discriminate based on age. One guy thought I was all of 25. At the time I was around 34. So....

[flex]

I had a relationship with a guy 23 years younger than I. Boy, did he ever have baggage. And very dramatic. Oy. Sex was great though, when he didn't wear me out. lol

[pinkdutchtulips]

when i dipped my toes back into the dating pool post divorce, i had a FWB type relationship w/ a guy 7 years my junior. he nn'd me Kitten bc i was a baby cougar LOL  it was fun while it lasted.

now i'm past that point .. most of the guys that hold my interest now are closer to my own age (40-44).

[magdala]

When I was almost 39, a friend asked if I wanted to be set up with a friend of theirs. I said sure and found out he was 33. I was a bit scared, but went through with it anyhow. I hoped it would be a nice dinner out; at least We hit it off amazingly. We got engaged a year later, got married a year after that and four years later had a baby girl. Sometimes things work out wonderfully in a way that you never expect. At least it did for me.

[RamblingRose]

My BF started as a FWB more or less, and has evolved into a real deal relationship. He is 16 years younger than I am, and most of the time I don't really think about it. I did at first, tho. His parents are somewhat horrified, I believe, and mine have moved on to acceptance because he is just so easy to be around, interesting, smart, kind, and helpful. Plus we aren't awkward together, so i think it is a non-issue for the time being.

[treedimensional]

The only problem I have with the cougar concept is that I'm not particularly attracted to younger men.
My whole life, I have always been attracted to people who are MY AGE. However, there may be a sexual angle. My spouse is 8 years younger (a real departure for me), but there are no age-related male problems whatsoever. We'll see what happens in another 10 years.

[mysterons]

I gravitate towards younger men for whatever reason.

My exH was six years younger. Looking back, I would not get into another relationship where we are at such different stages in life. 

My current BF is two years younger. We are ideally matched and have similar life experiences.

I had a long f-buddy arrangement with a guy 10 years younger. He was super cute, great at sex, and was into the age difference. I developed feelings for him which weren't reciprocated so that part wasn't fun.