62Telecaster
Don Juan
Thanks in advance...maybe skip to the third paragraph if you don't want to read my backstory.
I'm looking for some general input and thoughts on my life. I'm 28 and established in my career with good finances due to working my ass off over the last five years...the only problem is the social side of things. I work in education and am locked into a very rural district, so I spent the last four years in social hell working towards getting out...we're talking towns of a couple thousand people tops and old demographics. I learned a lot about myself during this stretch...and also about social stereotypes and expectations/realities attached to my age group thanks to the area that I lived in. Marriage and kids for the sake of doing so isn't for me...not my way of thinking.
...I've given up on moving to a big city and am now complacent with the reality of my career and staying put. I compromised by buying an awesome little house in a growing college town of about 70k people. I'm a five minute walk from university ammenities and nightlife/restaurants...not exactly big city life, but it's a BIG improvement. I've spent the last few months focusing on my job and hobbies related to music and athletics...I've been "doing me" while settling in and couldn't be happier.
So for the long haul...my career is locked; and I'm living next to the main drag in a large university town for the forseeable future with my own house and good outlets for my hobbies. I'm set...except for figuring out the dating scene and how I fit in. Every time I head downtown, I get approached by 21-22 year olds...I want to start dating again and this is what I'm getting in droves. In a proper city, I'd be focusing on the 25-35 range... but I'm stuck with getting swarmed by college seniors instead so far. Dunno what to think of it.
...So any advice or observations on this one? I don't really know how to deal with the dating pool and attention from the college students...it's been there to work with, but I dunno. Am I overthinking and being a dumbass about age gaps? What exactly would you do and what would you shoot for if you were in my situation?
I'm looking for some general input and thoughts on my life. I'm 28 and established in my career with good finances due to working my ass off over the last five years...the only problem is the social side of things. I work in education and am locked into a very rural district, so I spent the last four years in social hell working towards getting out...we're talking towns of a couple thousand people tops and old demographics. I learned a lot about myself during this stretch...and also about social stereotypes and expectations/realities attached to my age group thanks to the area that I lived in. Marriage and kids for the sake of doing so isn't for me...not my way of thinking.
...I've given up on moving to a big city and am now complacent with the reality of my career and staying put. I compromised by buying an awesome little house in a growing college town of about 70k people. I'm a five minute walk from university ammenities and nightlife/restaurants...not exactly big city life, but it's a BIG improvement. I've spent the last few months focusing on my job and hobbies related to music and athletics...I've been "doing me" while settling in and couldn't be happier.
So for the long haul...my career is locked; and I'm living next to the main drag in a large university town for the forseeable future with my own house and good outlets for my hobbies. I'm set...except for figuring out the dating scene and how I fit in. Every time I head downtown, I get approached by 21-22 year olds...I want to start dating again and this is what I'm getting in droves. In a proper city, I'd be focusing on the 25-35 range... but I'm stuck with getting swarmed by college seniors instead so far. Dunno what to think of it.
...So any advice or observations on this one? I don't really know how to deal with the dating pool and attention from the college students...it's been there to work with, but I dunno. Am I overthinking and being a dumbass about age gaps? What exactly would you do and what would you shoot for if you were in my situation?
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