and for the age issue.
there's a quite big difference even for a single year during the teens. After 20, the difference decreases but I think up to 5 years don't make a big difference over 30s. Because you're really a mature then, only the experiences make the difference.
And when the older one is the female in the relationships under 30, it's really much worse.
So for me, in this situation, where male is 22 and female is 27, these 5 years do make a big difference, and it's not really a healthy relationship. For me these partners are in this relation because of either they have some psychological problems or they want sex.

Hi so interested to read all your posts and would like to add something. I was married for 23 years (such a very long time)I belived I loved my husband and that he loved me but I found out that he had been with other women more than once, the first time I forgave him because I thought I loved him. Our relationship contuned for another six years and then on Valentines day he said he was moveing out to live with a friend (male) and he said there was no other woman in his life. He had become very miserable and I said if he was unhappy and if he felt that moving out for a while would help him sort himself out I said OK do it and we will see what happens. After a few days I found out that he had spent the last six months lying to me and he had been seeing another woman. I was blinded by love and I am not sure if you ever knbow someone.

My story does have a happy ending and I have the best of both worlds now, I have a Turkish man in my life and I have the best of both worlds, I live in England and visit him three or four times a year. He is many years younger than
me (he is over 30, he has been married to an English girl but is now divorced)but he says it doesn't matter and I honestly do not care what other people think. He makes me feel good, he tells me I am beautiful (although I know that sometimes I look my age, he is gentle and kind. He asked me to go and live with him but I think the relationship we have is for the best I can visit him in the winter when he has time for me. I have no illusions regarding his possible behaviour during the summer, I have watched the Turkish men and how they flatter the tourist women, it is no wonder we all fall for them. He says he is faithfull but from my experience most men do not turn down what is offered. To have the feeling of being loved is the most wonderful experience any woman can have no matter how old they are.
My man makes me feel like a teenager when I am with him and when I go back home I return to be the middle aged woman that looks after her grown up children and holds down a full time job.

But I have never been so happy and I agree grasp every opportunity that comes your way and never say IF ONLY,IF ONLY

this is true.. of course the attitudes r different between a tenageer and an adult.. but in adults it's not important if the diffence is under or about 10