Internet Dating and The Senior Citizen
Loneliness as you get older can be profound and, in the worst cases, crippling. Children move out and start their own families, often far from the family home. You begin reading the obituaries only to discover that older co-workers or neighbors have passed away. Perhaps your beloved life partner is no longer around. While it helps to alleviate this isolation by devoting yourself to church activities, volunteer work or maybe even taking on a part-time job, there remains no substitute for romance in your golden years. In fact, that tingle of infatuation can revitalize those with graying hair, the acute wisdom of age and wrinkles that speak to many decades of life.With romance also comes the added benefit of an improvement in your overall health should you find yourself in love as a senior citizen. This can include lower blood pressure, reduced stress and an extended life expectancy. A study at the University of Pittsburgh even discovered that happily married folks are at a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease when compared to their single counterparts.
As modern medicine continues to evolve, the average life expectancy of an American is up from age sixty-eight in 1950 to age seventy-eight in 2010. Technology has also been catching on with the senior set as more and more mature individuals are now fully adept at using a home computer and the Internet. No longer strictly the domain of socially active 20-somethings or the career driven 40-something crowd, seniors are now in on the action when it comes to Internet dating.
In fact, seniors are now so quickly jumping on the online romance bandwagon that dating sites devoted specifically to this faction are starting to sprout up all over the Internet. Sites such as www.singlesover50.com, www.seniorfriendfinder.com and www.seniormatch.com are just a few of the many sites catering to those looking for love in the twilight of their lives. While a small grouping of these sites are free, many require some sort of payment for their services. Per Jupiter Research, those choosing a fee based Internet dating service will pay an average of $239 per year.
At first glimpse, the online dating process could not be easier for senior citizens - simply type in details about you, specifics about what you want in a partner and within moments matches galore pop up on your screen. This certainly is not dating circa 1955! With 120,000 marriages occurring each year as a result of having found love via the Internet, it is definitely a simple and effective way to find a mate. However, that ease should always be paired with responsibility, caution and best practices.
First, think long and hard about what you are looking for in a potential partner while being certain not to set the bar too high. Sure it would be great to find a person who is ten years younger than you, wrinkle free, loaded with cash and has a beach house in Hawaii. But putting such strict limits on your available romance pool is ill advised and could leave you in the company of your cat on a Saturday night in lieu of dinner and dancing at the local jazz club. Allow for a few extra pounds. Accept the guy with a Ford instead of a BMW. Maybe say yes to the gal who never quite found the time to finish her Bachelors degree.
Next, when it comes to giving out detailed information about yourself via the Internet caution is the name of the game. Never be too quick to announce that your spouse left you with a hefty life insurance pay out or that you live alone or that the home you paid off years ago was recently appraised for well over $500,000. Of course, you should never offer to help out a new “friend” financially and be wise to any attempts they may make to get at your bank account. According to the FBI, scams targeting senior citizens are on the rise and savvy con artists are now using the Internet to work their schemes. Should you discover that someone is trying to swindle you, don't hesitate to contact the dating site in question and let them know.
While the methodology of courting has certainly changed through the ages, some things have remained the same. The same policy against appearing too desperate rings just as true at age seventy as it did at age seventeen. Be smart about coming on too strong or aggressively, as this tends to make people very uncomfortable. More than 20 millions people in a average month visit one or more Internet dating sites. This means that there are plenty of men and women searching for romance online. Turn someone off with a distasteful or insistent attitude and, most likely, they'll quickly move on.
The wise senior will also involve others in their online dating mission. This includes not only letting others know who you're letting into your life, but also allowing a tech savvy granddaughter or trusted friend check out your newfound sweetie online and get their take on the situation. It always helps to have someone with fresh and unbiased eyes to help scope out the new kid on your relationship block. If they get a funny feeling or a bad vibe from what is happening, take heed to their intuition and think twice about the romance. After all, they know you well and likely have only your best interests in mind.
When it comes to meeting in person, be sure to take it slow and keep in public. Get as much information as you can prior to meeting up and when the time is right, plan to meet at the local diner or coffee house. Also, let someone know where you are going and when you will be returning home.
It's clear that love is good for both body and soul. Being smart, remaining cautious and taking it slow can be the path to a romance that could translate to your golden years being the best years of your life.
Labels: Internet_dating, mature_dating, online_dating_polls, senior_dating
|
--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--
> SITEMAP < |
posted by Steve Brown | Wednesday, June 16, 2010
|
0 comments
