Recently I had large groups of Texan women that were obviously successful in their regular lives (based on the high-end quality of their hair, nails and shopping/dining habits) and questions (smarter than the average bears’). The ladies had joined their women’s networking group to take a foray to San Miguel.
I enjoy single-gender groups as I can try to gear the tour towards specific interests but these ladies surprised me in the middle of the cemetery when we went off in the direction of dating. They had heard San Miguel was unique in the absence of single, older and eligible men and what did I think about that rumor?
As a lad not looking to date other lads, I hadn’t thought too terribly much about it. But my answer was fairly obvious, to me, at least. I mentioned if you’re a single, sassy gringa at 65 looking to date 10 years older (as women, and men in the opposite direction, seem to do) that places your potential lad around 75 and statistically speaking, many of we men are dead by then. To find a man living, healthy, single and interested in a relationship with a gal would be a task anywhere in the world. No?
They agreed, and I mentioned men of that age and criteria here, that have funding, tend to focus on much younger guys or gals in an arrangement that proves to be a mutually beneficial for both parties. I asked “Is it any different in Houston to see an older man with a younger date?” I was told no.
Then that weekend I had a Sunday off from tours and writing books for the first time since Thanksgiving and decided to spend the day binge-watching “Love” (starring a funny gal from the TV show Community) and reading an even funnier stand up comedienne’s autobiography. I enjoyed neither. Both seemed oddly focused on what a 30 something gal was to do, if having spent her 20s ensconced in bars or wanton boys, if she wants to find a quality mate to do the marriage experiences with. They were baffled by (and I with their confusion) that, again, the lads about a decade older had already paired off with other, often younger, paramours.
Whether 35 or 65, male or female, isn’t the point to create an interesting, enticing life for yourself? With that, through intent or accident, you’ll meet other interesting and enticing folks and sparks can fly. Even if there is no romantic kindling you are still surrounding yourself with folks you find interesting and enticing, so life is a win-win at any age.
As these random thoughts raced through my head I ran into a sixty something gal pal that parks in front of my house when in centro. Bouncing the notion that it is statistics, rather than gender, that influence a woman’s ability to fall in love at any age I was told….”Nope, it’s a San Miguel thing as any time I go on vacation I get laid.”
We’re pals but, historically, we didn’t talk about sex and given that news update all I can say is I’m just a lumbering man dragging his knuckles around centro so what do I know about numbers or dating!?!
Article and photos by Joseph Toone.
Joseph Toone is the Historical Society’s short-story award winning author of the SMA Secrets book series. All books in the series are Amazon bestsellers in Mexican Travel and Holidays. Toone is SMA’s expert and TripAdvisor’s top ranked historical tour guide telling the stories behind what we do in today’s SMA. Visit HistoryAndCultureWalkin
