Life in the Boomer Lane and her two co-authors have spent the last seven years writing books about life over 50, speaking to countless women’s groups and organizations, appearing in the media, and conducting workshops based on their books.
A couple years ago, we created a Facebook page, inviting women at midlife and beyond to contribute and share their experiences, thoughts, and concerns about life at this age. It was envisioned not as a place to present victimhood (“My husband left me for a hot young tart, after 45 years of blissful marriage in which I put him through med school, raised our seven children, always had a hot meal on the table, and maintained my wedding day weight”) but to see the possibilities that life presents, in the face of what may appear to be obstacles. Our goal was to inspire women at midlife and beyond to live from vision, rather than from circumstances. Instead, it became a trolling site for hot young guys who were looking for older women.
Who were these young men and how did they find us? And why did they not post their contact info on the site? And did the message that these men presented include the possibility of sex without the aid of artificial lubricants? Were there toys involved? Most importantly, since we have made no money on book sales, could we now make money from matching older women with younger men?
These were the questions with which we wrestled. We were faced with a conundrum: take down the Facebook page or turn it into meeting place for older women and younger men. Because we pride ourselves on being powerful, visionary women of a certain age, our first thoughts that we shared with each other consisted of “Hot damn!”
Our second thoughts were little puppies that peed on the carpets of our first thoughts. Were these guys from parts unknown, looking to bilk us out of our hard earned cash or worse, to seek citizenship in this country? Our third thoughts were to wonder if it would be possible to test the guys out first before making a decision.
Because LBL was the actual creator of the Facebook page, and because she wanted first dibs on the guys, to spare her co-authors any grief, she took a hard look at the site. It appeared that aside from an invitation from a group called Gay Chubby and Daddy Lovers, there was nothing that was untoward.
Either one of LBL’s co-authors got to the site and purged the young guys, or she has contacted them herself. Of course, her co-authors denied any knowledge of why these men have now disappeared. LBL remains skeptical. She will now visit the site regularly to see if any of them come back.
If you are one of those hot guys who has disappeared, know that LBL will remain ever vigilant. But don’t let that stop you.
(Author’s Note: LBL remains a happily married woman who, despite Now Husband’s ongoing reluctance to recycle, is not looking for online romance. Any references otherwise are solely for the purposes of humor. Although if you know a hot young guy who is committed to recycling, please let her know)
Barneysday
July 27, 2013
Nicely done! If I ever get the urge, and I suddenly find myself alone, I might just break out the trolling gear!
Now, where did I leave that?
What was I looking for???
Think I’ll just go grab a cold one…
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
Good idea. Whatever that was.
BABYBOOMER johanna van zanten
July 27, 2013
Well, I think older guys also look for a woman that can serve them, and it is refreshing that for a change the younger men can serve us, women. In all and any case of trying to find a partner, I say: buyer beware regardless of age. I have had not much luck with men in my age group and find that they are not capable of sex, or friendship, just want to replace the convenience that they had with their previous wife, or a whole slew of other problems could occur, among which no money left which happens a lot, (after a divorce or two) and then they get really stingy.
I think purging the younger men from the site is sort of paternalistic or should I say materialistic? We are all grown ups and can decide for ourselves. It is darn flattering and boost my ego when I do get the occasional offer form a much younger man. If I want to follow up, or not, is my decision.
In any case, bringing in people from other nations for love or for charity is not so bad. What about the older men that get a rather vulnerable young woman from Thailand or another Asian nation for a wife, bringing her into the country, so that she can pretty much be slave to him and his old fashioned ideas of being the king of his castle?
Just some thoughts from a contrarian boomer…..
Johanna
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
Humor aside, I’ve always preferred men my own age. It’s tough enough for me to keep track of the events of those in my demographic, let alone what would be important to someone a lot older or a lot younger then me.
Elyse
July 27, 2013
Wait a minute — everybody you meet on line isn’t necessarily who they say they are?
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
I know. That and the Tooth Fairy. A real shame.
JackieP
July 28, 2013
younger men aren’t all they are cracked up to be. They have to be trained and that is so tiring when you’re my age. Older guys, ugh, not enough get up and go. Stay single and if you’re lucky you may find what you need. 😉
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
As I told Johanna, I’ve always preferred men my own age. And no one should settle.
Hippie Cahier
July 28, 2013
Somewhere a team of social scientists is launching a research study on age- and gender-based recycling-reluctance tendencies and Facebook trolling behaviors. I just know it.
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
Would that that were true. More fodder for me.
Valentine Logar
July 28, 2013
With out lubricants? Without blue pills? With the lights on? Ladies keep your money safe and as to the rest, have a good time!
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
Good thoughts, Valentine.
Snoring Dog Studio
July 28, 2013
Facebook is just Craig’s List with a little bit of dressing up.
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
It can be. Just like blogging can be Facebook with a little bit of dressing up.
afterthekidsleave
July 28, 2013
Wow. I sense a change in blog direction coming on. Apparently we’ve been doing it all wrong. 🙂
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
No change here. Just a temporary foray into another territory.
benzeknees
July 28, 2013
And I knew you when!
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
Gosh, and here I thought I was still a “when.”
Ruhul Munna
July 7, 2021
Age doesn’t matter for love.the most important things needed to love someone it’s care behave well and touch with bottom of heart❤️
Scott
July 28, 2013
I recycle religiously. Just sayin’
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 28, 2013
I’ll put Now Husband on notice.
Betty Londergan
July 29, 2013
Hey, MY husband won’t recycle either!!! Don’t these guys know that they are perilously close to losing us to hot young men who are apparently (I’m taking your word for this, LBL, since it’s not been my experience in any way) lining up to get with us???
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 29, 2013
Personally, I actually haven’t noticed any lines, although I just read about the 100-year-old woman (a real person with no fortune) whose husband is 67 and they are devoted to each other. I have taken to going through the trash each day (just the top layer) and pulling out the items to be recycled. Sometimes it shames Now Husband into carrying everything out to the recycling bin. He’s a tough cookie. But he cooks and cleans up after, so at least there is that.
Sienna (@datingseniormen)
July 29, 2013
FB is so unreliable. Hot young guys….what a waste. It could have been rich, big-spender 80-year olds trolling for matches with nubile young women in their sixties. Darn.
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 29, 2013
Sienna, as always, you are so bad. And so very good.
Lynn Schneider
July 29, 2013
Men and re-cycling. It’s a common problem. Sounds like material for another post to me.
Main Street Musings Blog
August 2, 2013
By “test the guys out” did you mean take them for a test drive or test them for std’s or both? 😉 (p.s. In case you missed my latest post I wanted you to know that linked to your site and offered an overdue thanks for the opportunity to guest blog. It was a pleasure.