I'm a 36 year old woman and it seems to me that what attracts me most, since I stepped over 30, is younger men with vibrant attitudes and spontaneous spirits, usually at least 6 or 7 years younger than me and not looking to settle down with an 'older woman' like me. Young men are still looking for "fun", exceptions exist, but these exceptions are already in a relationship, planning their wedding, or happily married.

The thing is, I know I want to settle down, I want a family and I don't want to only play and have fun. But I can't get myself to be attracted to men who can be good candidates and ready to settle down. Although looks don't matter that much to me, but looking at a picture of an old (over 35) man turns me off, and turns the relationship off before it even starts. I don't feel or think that I'm that old, and when I meet men who are my age or older I feel like I'm talking or going out with 'an older man'.

Serious men don't attract me, yet. I want spontaneous, funny or stupid, playful sometimes... I don't mind taking off in the middle of the night just for a ride, for example. Mature men don't act spontaneous anymore, they're too serious all the time!

Even if I don't mind sharing my life with a younger man (obviously); the age issue is still something to consider - or talk about - in our community, as traditionally, you know, the man should be older. Bottom line, if I want to get married to a Lebanese man and have children, and this is what I want, something needs to change and fast. But what? I need help figuring out what I need to do to find the right combination for me. Probably I also need to know how I can convince myself that I'm not 26 anymore and that 'older men' are as old as I am.

- Forever Young, Canada, F, 36

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