Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. Madonna and Everyone. Older-Younger couples are everywhere you look and yet, there still seems to be some level of taboo surrounding these so-called May-December romances. Which, when you think about it, is silly.

Dating someone who is older than you can actually be really awesome. I know firsthand – my boyfriend and I have almost a decade between us! If you’re bored with the dating scene in your age group and tired of being let down by fleeting career-minded singles who can’t commit, try dating someone older than you. You might find exactly what you’re looking for.

Here’s a few reasons why dating someone older rocks –

1. They know what they want –

Tired of meeting people who aren’t sure what they want or whether they’re ready to commit? Try dating an older man or woman. They likely have lots of relationship experience under their belt and are now a lot more secure in what they’re looking for. Whether that’s a serious relationship or casual dating – they won’t beat around the bush. Dating someone older means never having to hear, “so, um, I’m not really into labels so let’s just keep things casual.” (However, if they are still in this phase and you’re not, this is not the older person for you!)

2. They know who they are –

Because they’ve already been through their tumultuous 20’s and career focused 30’s, they now have a really solid idea of who they are as a person and what they need from a relationship. So, if you’ve grown tired of dating people who can’t focus on a relationship because they’re in the midst of a quarter life existential crisis, dating someone who is older than you is where it’s at. People’s personalities and ways of being tend to gel at a certain age. One of the nice things about dating someone who is slightly older is what you see, is pretty much what you get. You’ll also never have to worry about them breaking up with you because they need to go backpacking through India to “find themselves.”

3. They are supportive of your ambitions –

Want to open the best Korean BBQ-Taco truck ever? Aiming to make partner at your firm? Do you have some other kind of cool, creative endeavour that you’re working on? Dating an older person also means never having to hear, “I just really need to focus on my career right now.” Your older person already has a career that they’re successful in, which means they’re happy to support and encourage your ambitions. As someone who’s been there, they’re also likely to be chock full of great advice and wisdom that they’re ready to impart on you. It’s a beautiful thing!

4. They appreciate complexity and deep conversations –

Your older person doesn’t see conversation as a mere formality in order to get you in the sack. Instead, they find great conversation  (possibly over a nice bottle of wine) to be highly stimulating and something to look forward to. They’re legitimately interested in learning about you and want to hear about your dreams, goals, adventures – so, don’t be shy! Also, keep in mind that with life experience comes understanding. They appreciate your depth and imperfections as a person because they’ve had time to get to know their own.

5. They can introduce you to some really cool things that you might not have experienced otherwise –

Sometimes generation gaps can be a great thing! Never heard Fleetwood Mac play live or binge watched old episodes of Magnum PI? Dating someone older will open you up to all kinds of new experiences that you might never have been aware of before. Your weekends will become infinitely more interesting.  Think about it: your older person has had ample time to mature beyond their “I’m just going to hit the bar with my friends and get wasted” years. They’ve cultivated other interests to fill their time and are excited to share them with you.

6. They appreciate your youth –

One of the most surprising things I’ve discovered about dating someone older is that my boyfriend actually seems younger (yes, that’s right) than many guys in my age group. He’s settled in his life and career which means he can now focus his energy on having all kinds of wonderful adventures. He appreciates my youth and that I’m able to join him on said, adventures. Older people who enjoy dating younger men or women do so because they love life and want to be with someone who keeps them feeling young. My advice: embrace the heck out of it and enjoy the ride!