Age Limits

How old is too old when it comes to dancing the horizontal tango?

Yesterday afternoon we were watching "Britt," a German talk show that Agnes enjoys. It's a bit like the Jerry Springer show, but without the thrown punches and swinging chairs ... each show has a provocative theme and a group of 5 - 7 guests who interact with Britt Hagedorn (the host) and each other. I think it's kind of dumb, but Agnes wants me to watch it to improve my German vocabuary.

Anyhow, the theme of yesterday's show was whether or not there's an upper age limit for the practicing of sex. The guests included a good-looking 67 year-old man who professed to enjoying sex several times per week, and to have had more than 500 (!)* partners; a young woman who viewed the mid-40's as the age after which the very thought of sex is yucky; an older woman (in her late 70s) who still enjoys sex with her husband; a born-again woman who believed sex outside of marriage - especially after about 40 - was wrong (although her two children were born out of wedlock, if to the same father); and an attractive young woman who thought sex between older people is "cute."

As you might suspect, no one convinced anyone else to change their minds. The "discussion" ranged from the propriety (and perceived yuck factor) of May-December sexual relations to the disgust most young people seem to have at the thought of their parents having sex**.

Speaking with all the authority of an almost-65 year-old fellow, I can only say this: have all the sex you want, as long as you can, with whomever you want, of whatever age, as long as you're careful about it. It's said that one of the few benefits allotted to a man as he ages is that every year, there are more women he thinks are attractive. As long as both partners are willing and aren't hurting anyone else, go for it.

I sowed all my wild oats long ago, and have settled down to being a sex symbol emeritus, the proud father of three and grandfather of six. I have a great many female friends of all ages, but only one with whom I'm still interested in dancing that horizontal tango.

And that's not likely to change as the clock grinds inexorably on.

Have a good day. Enjoy the intersection of biology and physics while you can.

More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

* Who does he think he is ... Wilt Chamberlain?

** Although they'd be in a pretty bad fix if their parents hadn't had sex, wouldn't they?