SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – Is 65 the new thirty-something? It’s never too late in life to find love! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, seniors stepping up their virtual dating game.
Romance is anything but dead for those age 55 and older. A recent study reveals out of 2,000 seniors surveyed, 66-percent say dating-apps have resulted in successful relationships.
“It’s very interesting at this age because we have a lot of life experiences and those experiences are varied,” Venice resident, Christ Geib said.
So, Geib resorted to online. She’s in her mid-50s, looking for love after an ended marriage of 25-years.
“Meeting virtually gives you the opportunity to possibly learn someone a little bit better from a further distance,” Geib said.
Professional matchmaker, Shana Tibi says going virtual offers several advantages.
“It saves people a lot of time, energy; misrepresentations of people they’re going to meet,” Tibi said.
No harm, no foul.
“You can edit people out who you didn’t have a connection with,” Lakewood Ranch resident, Jacqueline Paredi said. “You really have to be friends first. Establish similarities interest, laugh; have a sense of humor if that’s important to you; the things that make you feel comfortable and in your own skin.”
After becoming single in her 30’s, Paredi has been searching for romance for more than 25 years.
“It’d be nice to snuggle with someone,” Jacqueline Paredi said.
Tibi says the most commonly used dating apps are Tinder, Match, and Hinge among others. But it takes time.
“There’s never one perfect person,” Tibi said. “You need to pick what core values you must have and also the top three dealbreakers that you know you’re not going to ever want to deal with in your life.”
Anytime in your life is the right time.
“Age can be meaningless in finding that perfect partner,” Paredi said. “There are a lot of single people out there.”
“You’re not broken, you’re not unlovable,” Tibi said. When you’re ready to find that person, that person’s out there.”