How Old is Too Old For Casual Dating?

By K.C. Morgan

Single, at an Older Age

When you’re young and single, the world is full of possibilities. There are lots of other young singles to connect with, lots of opportunities to meet new people, and plenty of activities to enjoy together. But, being divorced, widowed, or single at a more advanced age can feel very, very lonely. Today’s singles’ scene seems to be a meat market for the young…and that makes finding an age-appropriate mate a very big task.

You may not be ready to be married or even to commit to a serious relationship, but does that mean you can’t enjoy casual dating? Absolutely not! Even for older singles, there is a thriving and active community out there where you can find someone to spend time with, and it doesn’t have to get any more serious than that (unless, you want it to!).

Find Age-Appropriate Mates

For older singles, going to singles’ mixers and bars is little more than a waste of time. Such places are for younger daters, and only 9% of women and 2% of men have said they’ve found a relationship in a bar or club. There are some places to find singles from another generation, however. A good place to start is through assisted living communities. Even if you don’t live in one of these places, they often put together events and mixers that allow seniors to mingle. Often, churches organize events for older singles as well. Also, don’t give up on the online community. There are plenty of older singles who use matchmaking sites.

Are You Compatible?

No one wants to waste their time by going out on bad first dates. A good way to avoid this is to determine how compatible you are with your potential date. Use the following mental checklist to see if the date is worth the effort:

Is it easy to make conversation?
Do you have a few things in common?
Do you enjoy some of the same things?
Most importantly, do you enjoy the time you have spent together?

Are They Interested?

Sometimes, you may have a candidate in mind when you’re considering a date. Find out if they’re interested by looking for a few warning signs:

They approach you for conversation.
They make it a point to seek you out – either for a friendly smile, a wave, or a greeting.
They remember details about you, i.e. likes and dislikes, your regular habits, etc.
They invite you to group activities and events with friends.

Ask Them Out!

Even when you feel ready to date and you’re interested in someone who’s probably interested in you, asking someone out is a frightening experience. The fear of rejection is huge – but don’t let it be enough to stop you. If you’d like to go on a date with a certain person, the key to saving face (even in the face of rejection) is keeping it casual. Make it sound like a simple suggestion when you see each other out and about – “would you like to go get a cup of coffee?” for example.