I think any age difference like that is just too much. You may be the most mature 18 year old in the world, and sure you may need an older man. But really...what does that say about the 42 year old? Although my cousin just got married to a man with almost the same age difference...I just don't think it speaks too highly of the man. If I were you I'd find someone younger, and I'm sure you could get along and have lots of things in common with him too.

Age matters. Couples with large age gaps face a lot of difficulties other couples don't have but they can be overcome. You have to work at it and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. My partner is 31 years older than me, we got together when I was 18. People had a lot to say; we lost ''friends'', we had internet sites dedicated to discredit us, we had difficult discussions with our families, we had embarrassing moments in public but we persevered. The absolute most important thing that has allowed our relationship to survive is that WE are okay with our relationship. We don't look to other people for approval. We don't ask others to like it, simply to mind their own business. We told people to get lost when they tried to interfere and give us their unsolicited opinions. So yes it can work, but you have to be sure of your love and commitment to each other. You have to be prepared to lose friends and not allow yourself to be too concerned with what others think. The fact you're asking us, total strangers, for advice suggests you're not ready to do that.

to each his own. personally i want an older guy but not much older. i prefer someont between 3-10 yrs younger. though i rather think i draw the line at 15yrs. my cousin married someone 16yrs her senior and theyre happy. another 12yrs. so i'm bound to feel ok with the likes:)

Fact from fiction, truth from diction. Of course some people will disapprove. We are speaking of the US, the land of sexual midgets. Here in the US they seem to believe that love can only happen and succeed if the ages are between X and Y. Oh.....but how do you explain all those divorces? Especially when many are with in that magic number? It makes no difference, only to those on the outside looking in. People are uncomfortable when they see a great age difference because this nation is gripped by pedophobia. The ideal that of anyone loves someone who maybe close to the age of their son, daughter, father or mom that somehow they wanted to have sex with their kin. If you find you like someone deeply and want to explore it but they are 12, 15, 23 years older or younger, thicken up and go for it. Do you want to be with someone you are comfortable with or just someone close to your own age so people don't stare and whisper under their breath? My fiancee and I are more than 15 years apart and we will be damn if we are going to direct out lives because some passers by want to try stirring up the Koolade they don't even know what flavor it is. She told her people how old I was because she is a grown woman and she is going to live her life not the life others want her to live. What about you? If you truly want to be an adult come clean with his age ans let the feathers fly where they most. If they really love you they will come around to accepting your choice, or at least keep the hell out of the way.

I think it is awesome especially because my girlfriend is 19 and I am 44. At first I was really having trouble with the age difference and she did not. Now, I hardly remember that we are so far apart. We too have many things in common and are in love so It is ok for us. I think with this older man you will be treated with a little more respect and kindness than a man closer to your age might. I say, do it!