My boyfriend is 14 years my senior. We started dating when I was 25. He actually thought I was older and I thought he was younger!

This is how I'd describe it, too. There are definitely things to notice about the age difference; not necessarily that it's bad, but clear differences in experience, potential for children, what it will be like as we age, are serious questions. We love each other though and the good far outweighs the pitfalls, I believe.

But being safe is definitely a priority and I'm glad to hear it stated. If I was 21, even, I don't think it would have been ok to date a man that much older than me. I'm glad I found him when I did, when we both were in a right place for it.

I'm not really terribly surprised that I'd fall for a man in his 60's because of the "daddy issue" thing (not afraid to admit it ). My father was 18 and my mom was 38 when I was born. My sister was 16 and my brother 10. So, I've grown up seeing my father more like an older brother in a lot of ways, except more complicated. He lost his mother when he was a toddler, and always dated women that were decades older than him. His brother did, too. So there definitely is merit to "replacing" a parent in my mind, and it's not just women!