Abortion,
Beating,
Rape,
Job Firing,
Drunken orgy,
Child,
Marriage,
Divorce,
Best Friend's Divorce,
Best Friend' Abortion,
Best Friend's paternity case,
which means usually you are stuck with those 23 or under.
I did OK with 26, but I agree with your exclusionary criteria.
I could never get into 18 and 19 year olds, but by all means, be my guest.
Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. Two of my last three girlfriends had been raped - the last one was raped twice. Those three girls totally ruined dating for me - lying, cheating, and mind games.
Companionship? I have male friends, and a dog.
Honestly, the only thing I miss is the sex.
I'm to the point now where I don't want to date, because my ability to tolerate B.S. is long since gone.
This last summer, I accidentally ran into my neighbor who'd moved in a year before. I had no interest in meeting her - I went up to the fence to pet her dog. She was out back, and walked down to chat. Had I known she was there, I wouldn't have walked up to the fence.
We ended up going out to see a movie. I mean, what's the harm? Kinda nice having an attractive female friend to go see movies with, right? I actually shook her hand - didn't hug, didn't kiss, didn't sit there having an awkward conversation - just shook her hand, said goodnight, and got out of her truck (she insisted on driving).
Her story - got married, had a kid, got divorced, went back to school, got a degree (art major), bought a house...
Anyway, four movies later, she starts falling asleep after she gets home from work, before we're supposed to go see the movie, on account of her hectic job / school / kid / house single parent lifestyle.
She stood me up twice for the same damn movie. Get this - she was pissed at me for telling her I wasn't going to be stood up by her a third time. That's the last time we spoke.
It was a quickie refresher course in why I'd avoided dating like the plague these past years.