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Midlife Is The New Coming-of-Age

cougar crossing signWhat’s good for the boomer goose is good for the boomer gander. The sexual revolution isn’t over. Nor is “women’s lib.”

Are we having an epidemic of female boomer chronophilia? The male version is regarded as a natural part of maturing. If a man can have a midlife crisis, why not a woman? What is chronophilia? An age-related romantic or sexual preference outside one’s age group, variously defined.

The “cougar” prowl is portrayed in television favorites Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives. None of these characters can hold a candle to the notorious Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who seduces young Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. There are plenty of current cougar celebrity couples: Demi Moore and Ashton Kushner, Katie Curic and her 33-year-old triathlon boyfriend, Cher or Madonna and take your pick.

Social commentators scramble to explain the phenomenon. Science has made us all look and feel younger. Perhaps it’s the final frontier of the sexual revolution as the divorce rates remains at 50%. Services abound to cater the cougar—websites, dating clubs, classes and cruises. In particular, cougar conventions cougar warning t-shirtare popping up everywhere: young men and mature women meet and mix for a weekend of posh consensual fun. You’re not older, you’re better. If vintage wine is good, why not vintage women? It’s the sexual revolution taken to its logical conclusion.

The relationships tend to be casual by design. These boomer women are typically well educated, financially secure and looking for fun and companionship, not children. Boomer men can have “baggage”--like ex’s, kids and potbellies. Remember, it takes two to do the cougar tango. The younger dudes are attracted to beauty at any age, but also to the uninhibited nature of cougars, their independence and lack of commitment demands.

The answer to your midlife crisis: enjoy it!

 

miss cougar 2009

Trivia Factoids

Ann Bancroft, who played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate, was in real life only 6 years older than co-star Dustin Hoffman.

In a recent survey by the American Association of Retired People, 34% of women over 40 are dating younger men. It doesn’t say how much younger.

The 2009 Miss Cougar California is glorious Gloria Navarro.

Glossary of Terms

Cadet Cougar: a younger woman who aspires to be a "mature cougar." Also referred to as a Cougar Pup.

Puma: a lady in her thirties who fancies younger guys. "I just love those frat parties!" Considered to be a "cougar in training."

Saber Tooth: a woman in her fifties+ dating a man 20+ years her junior.

Terry Hamburg writes the Boomer to You blog about the exciting and revolutionary baby boomer years.

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