He’s tall, dark and handsome, flirts shamelessly and has a Ph.D. to boot. The candle lit dinner is the most romantic first date you have ever had, and the conversation, though tongue in cheek, is fascinating and intelligent. “How old do you think I am?” he finally asks. You know his subtle silver streaks are more George Clooney than Taylor Hicks but on the inside you’re hoping he’s 35. Well, 35 he is not. Let’s face it dear, your date could have been your mother’s high school sweetheart.

Can you make a relationship work despite a wide age gap? Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones enjoy a successful May-December marriage, and as for dating that younger guy — look no further than Justin and Cameron. But, celebrities aside, is age just a number when it comes to dating? And what are the pros and cons of a significantly younger or older partner?

PRO: The younger guy just reached his sexual peak.
With this guy, time in the bedroom is bound to be an adventure. Kathy, 35, who dated a man 12 years younger says, “He had stamina for days and a lack of inhibition with a “no harm, no foul, try anything” attitude. It was fantastic!”

PRO: The older guy has practice in the bedroom.
Your mature man is more likely to know exactly what he wants, both in and out of the bedroom, and has hopefully mastered the art of giving you multiple Os. Jessica, 27, who dated a guy 11 years her senior, says, “There was no awkwardness, no fumbling — everything seemed really easy from the beginning. And it was always good!”

CON: The young guy never sleeps.
If your boyfriend is new to the working world, he may not understand why partying ‘til all hours no longer fits into your lifestyle. Amy, 35, says, “I dated this younger guy and after a while, his party-all-the-time attitude got annoying. He’d call me in the middle of the night and got mad when I didn’t feel like chatting at 2 a.m.!”