Serious question: how do you find a long term partner with a significant age gap?

[Anonymous]

Significant age gap meaning more than 4-5 years. I hear a lot of people saying that the man should be older than the woman by about 5 years, and most (even recent) marriages I've seen abide by this rule.

However, I am curious where do these couples meet.. Because if you start dating for a long term partner in college, you will most likely find someone who is about the same age as you, with at most 3-4 years difference (first vs last year of college). If you don't take college into account, and you just start dating a friend of a friend, than you would still, statistically be about the same age, except if the girl is someone's younger sister. But I don't believe it happens that often for 2 siblings to be so many years apart (4-5 or more).

The other option would be meeting someone in a club, but I find it hard to believe that, statistically, if both people were looking for a partner in a club, or at a party, that their relationship would be long lasting.

Also, I am aware that meeting someone at the workplace would be an option, however in most marriages I've seen, the 2 partners have different jobs that don't necessarily overlap.

So, does that mean that most long term relationships with such a big age gap simply started by meeting a total stranger in a public place, and than everything just magically clicked?

What am I missing here?

[RebelinSteel]

People meet in pubs, clubs, at work as not everyone goes to college or university, in clubs such as running, rowing, some people join theatre clubs and help out at local theatre, a friend met his wife like that he was 30, she was 22 and they have been married 10 years.

[elaphe]

I wouldn't call five years much of an age difference. I have a friend whose parents are 15 years apart and they have been married for decades. I have a cousin whose husband is 21 years older than she; they have been married for 25 years I have a former teacher who got remarried after his first wife died; his second wife is 33 years younger than he. They have been married for over a decade. Thise are "significant" age differences.

[itsannalee]

I’m 30 and my boyfriend is 38. We've been dating for 2 years. I met him in the restaurant, he approached me and asked my number.

[AI Opinion]

Exploring the intriguing dance of finding love with a notable age difference, huh? Love doesn't always play by the book, especially when it comes to age. Think outside the campus or workplace box - the world is your oyster, shimmering with opportunities to connect! From shared hobbies and interests that bring people together in the most unexpected places, to the expanding digital landscape where dating apps and websites make it easier to set your age preferences and find someone who matches your desired age bracket. The magic often lies in shared life goals, emotional maturity, and that spark that knows no age. Sure, the stories might not always start with a ‘meet-cute’ in a coffee shop, but the paths to finding a significant other with an age difference are as diverse as love itself. Whether it's through mutual friends, a chance encounter that leads to an engaging conversation, or the deliberate search on platforms designed to bring like-minded souls together, the key is keeping an open heart and an adventurous spirit. So, keep your eyes peeled, your mind open, and who knows? Your love story might just be around the corner, waiting to surprise you.

[rachel776]

they find you 🤷‍♀️