As I climb through my 20s, I start to feel my dating options changing.

I've been told that dating older is for now and dating younger is for later. But the more interesting people I meet, the less willing I am to let age make a difference in my love life.

As I watch others break unspoken social rules about dating outside their age groups, it becomes clear that age really is just a number when it comes to love.

In my early 20s, I had a relationship with a man nearly 10 years older than I. While this situation did not please my parents, Dave and I spent two years making some great memories. It wasn't always easy to bridge the gap, but we had common interests and similar personalities.

LIFE FILES Discuss: Celebrate Unusual Holidays? E-mail: Get Advice Archive: Past LifeFiles

Since then, I have tended to date men who are closer to my own age, though still older. While it was a big deal back then that these guys might "corrupt" me, age differences have become less dramatic with time.

So what makes the older man appealing? With some much-older men, his experience can be inspirational, especially if you've established a student-teacher relationship. Many older men are also more stable and, let's be honest, have more money.

There is also a maturity issue. When guys your age are looking to rack up notches on the bedpost, the older guy may have less of a need to do so.

And yet, there is the flip side, where you are nothing more than the man's mid-life-crisis ego boost. Unless you want to be the ornament on his arm or in his nice car, it is no fun to date someone just because of his or her age.

But it's not just about older men with younger women. Many "older" women tend to find the most joy with younger men, who seem to appreciate the independence of an experienced woman.

The only thing I hate to see is that these women sometimes feel bad about it.

No matter how much fun she has with 20-somethings, my 30-something friend Elle still feels strange about being "the older woman." She's not really old and he's not really young, but she is sensitive to what others will say.

Outsiders' discomfort and criticisms seem to be the hardest part of a relationship with someone of a very different age.

"How old is he?"
"Is that your little brother?"
"Why did you bring your mom?"
"You two just don't go together."

You may hear a lot of stupid "advice," but only you can decide what works. A relationship is between two people. Regardless of how perceptive an outsider may be, he or she can never really step inside the relationship.

When you're on the outside, you may be uncomfortable seeing someone close to you with someone years older. But there's nothing to say that the two people aren't in love, or that they don't genuinely care about each other, or that they have no idea what they're doing.

It's more important to consider compatibility. Can the 60-year-old keep up with the 30-year-old? Can they share the same friends?

Some older lovers would rather bring you into his or her world than share the one you already have, preventing you from participating in your own peer group.

A relationship with someone older may also disrupt your social development. If you're in your 20s and he's in his 40s, changes that may be necessary for you may not be ideal for the relationship.

While it may be hard to relate to someone who grew up with eight-tracks when you were listening to CDs, getting a different perspective may be one of the greatest benefits.

Dating someone you met in college -- other than your professor, that is -- gives you a common ground but doesn't necessarily broaden your worldview.

Along with compatibility, it really comes down to what you want from a relationship. A 30-something guy who isn't looking to marry may find much younger or older women to be on the same wavelength.

If you are a single gal with hopes of marriage and a family, the older man may not be the best bet for the long haul. But that doesn't mean he's not right for now.

Realizing that many relationships aren't forever may make enjoying the moment with someone, regardless of age, worth the occasional friction.

Make your own rules for your dating life. If you decide not to date anyone born after a certain White House administration, that's your rule to keep or break.

Dating is about exploring and learning about yourself. As long as it's legal, don't let the numbers keep you from taking chances.

Laura Lewis is an adventurous 20-something who knows how to make the most of being single. Her column appears every other Thursday.