I'm afraid most of this thread has me completely flummoxed...
...anyway, age difference in relationships; a subject I have a take on. My friend, a university lecturer, has a girlfriend 20 years his junior. Yes, she was in one of his classes (well, tutorial to be precise). Sounds like a cliché doesn't it!
He's a very intelligent man and I have had some excellent conversations with him. She's an intelligent women and whilst I haven't had the same type of conversations with her, she's clearly an intellectual match for him. But here I have to admit to what might be some kind of prejudice or something; I don't get it. (Obviously, I don't have to, it's THEIR relationship!)
But to try and clarify what is it that I don't get (which, in all honesty, I'm really not sure of), I have to mention his former partner. She was of his age, and a journalist with 2 children. Not the bookish intellect of his new partner but a down to earth and worldly-wise intelligence. Less earnest, more considered, and more aware... and MUCH more the attractive person imo. For the live of me, I cannot see why my friend prefers the new partner.
It's not simply a question of 'what do they talk about?', but of empathy. Empathy developed by simply having been alive for around the same length of time. Having gone through similar times, having reached broadly similar times of live, having broadly similar needs and expectations for the future. (I say broadly, and mean that in it's broadest sense!)
I think my friend's new girlfriend lacks this, the former girlfriend has it by the bucket load. I simply don't get it. But then I don't have to.