I got divorced after 14 years at 36-then dated some women both older and younger, mostly a bit younger. Took a bit but determined that I didn't want to go more than 5 years either direction....beyond that it seemed just too far apart in life to realistically make things work...at least for me. Divorced a year and met an absolutely amazing woman, figured we'd date a few months, then ease back into our own lives...that was in 2007 lol. As far as starting a family, that was completely off the table for both of us. Her youngest was a senior in high school, id already raised a stepdaughter, no way did I want to start all over again, neither did she.