When I was in my teens, it was the older guys who outgoing and friendly. I gravitated to non-jocks with wavy/curly hair and green or blue eyes.
In my 20’s, I came to the conclusion that appearance was still a factor, but it comes in many packages, including the color of one’s skin. Living in Washington, DC, after college where so many ethnic groups reside was a fabulous experience that will always be appreciated. I looked for nice men and those that had morals that I agreed with and focused on building a comfortable future.
In my 30’s, I learned that attraction has more to do with a partner’s personality than looks. Respect, trust, morals, financial responsibility and of course, love, crop up in the top ten. Someone who has a degree of intelligence and a certain wit caused an instant attraction.
In my 40’s, an aunt told me that I would probably never get married because I was holding out for someone like my father. At first, I took her message literally and focused on learning to take care of myself so that I could one day be the old lady living in a Victorian house with 15 cats and doted on the nieces and nephews. I became quite content with this.
And then one day, I met a curious man purely by accident on an internet site. It took about three weeks to realize that he was the only person I would be willing to commit to for a lifetime. In no way do I feel that I have ever lowered my standards. If anything, the bar was continually raised and am thankful every day for sticking to it.