I remember back around 35 years ago an E8 Gunny Sargent in the Marines who was a personal friend at the time went back to his hometown in the Deep South (I think it was AL) on vacation and came back with a new wife. They had been in contact for a long time and decided to tie the knot and move her to where he was living in Oceanside, CA near Camp Pendelton where he was stationed at the time. She was easily 20 years younger than him so being a close enough friend I asked if that was common in the Deep South. He was a little vague but he did say it wasn’t uncommon. Different cultures in different areas I guess.
My take was they didn’t view age the same way I did and all that mattered was they were happy. This wasn’t an isolated incident either. I saw it again with another couple who met, hit it off, got married, then moved to Phoenix after an earthquake. The woman was at least 25 years younger in that case but neither one was from the Deep South. Neither of these guys were rich but their income was enough that the lady didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to. To my knowledge both couples lived happily ever after.
It would take a special woman for me to consider being with someone that much younger simply because of the life experience difference but some people can be old souls with far more wisdom than their age would seem to allow sometimes.
My dad was 25 years older than my mom.