Y’all, people in general do not get a personality transformation as they age. Some subtle shifts maybe, but a major change, typically not. A new Netflix reality show stars people between the ages of 56 and 70 dating, The Later Daters. The younger YouTube reviewers1 seem very surprised that “old people dating” are a lot like young people or middle age people dating. From inappropriate comments, bias based on age2, and who reaches out to who first. It’s more person dependent than age. Per the title of this post, my next question to those YouTubers would be, what did you expect for Later Daters?
Someone 60 years old should be happy for the opportunity to go out on a date? That there is some magic age where preference vanishes into a sense of this may be my last chance desperation? Is everyone over the age of 55 in some amorphous lump with the implication, technology and the ways of the “modern world” are incomprehensible? Yes, since I’m in that age group, I am particularly sensitive. But wait, here is the part that cracks me up, not only on this show, but many reality shows that involve dating. “What’s your type?3” The person typically names a couple of celebrities. On Later Daters, one gentleman responded, Jennifer Aniston and Penelope Cruz. I would have jumped in with the next question, “So you feel your looks are on par with Brad Pitt, Justin Theroux, Tom Cruise and Javier Bardem; just asking for a friend.” That’s right, so you think you look like <insert the name of the partner of the person.>3 The next question! When someone gives a physical, financial, intellectual type the next question should be, “how do you embody those characteristics?”
Otherwise, we’re just talking aspirational dating. Ahh, living the aspirational life. The perfect job, the dream house, the magical day. Face it, you have a few aspirational desires and it’s not a a bad thing. What’s important to note is aspiration versus reality. This week, consider your aspirations; is there a way to make it reality or, are there things in reality that actually kinda sorta measure up to aspirational?
1 Yes, it’s big business. There are YouTube channels dedicated to reviewing TV shows. You know how you watch something and you just want to know what someone else thinks or you want to discuss it? Enter the world of YouTube Reviews. Some of the programs are live and you can enter your comments into the chat.
2 When the 56 year old male disabled vet said of the 62 year old power walker female, I don’t date older women, I nearly got whiplash. I felt, leave age out of it, the two of you were not a match, she likes to hike and you can’t. Oh woe is me, I’m making those assumptions like the younger You Tubers.
3 Please note, the questions was “your type,” not celebrity crush.
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 
Having been to the top of this mountain by way of accompanying you to an RTF concert many moons ago, I can safely report that everything after has been aspirational.
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