Tom Blake

2 months ago | picketfencemedia.com | Tom Blake

Recently, an Orange County woman, age 76, wrote to me about children interfering with her relationship with a man she’s dated for five years. She asked that I not use her true name, so I will call her Jessica. It’s not her children who are creating the problem; it’s her boyfriend’s kids and grandkids who are causing it. She wondered if I had ever written about the topic of kids interfering with their parents’ relationships.

2 months ago | picketfencemedia.com | Tom Blake

Recently, six seniors shared with me their views on romance. Joe, newly divorced, emailed: “My dating has been limited to meeting women on dating apps. I had an interesting thing happen at the grocery store. I noticed a cute woman in the store. I got to the laundry aisle, and there she was again looking at items to buy. Although she didn’t look at me, I was tempted to ask if she was single. I missed my chance.  “My fear was her saying she wasn’t interested in dating me – a comment no guy likes to hear.

Mar 27, 2025 | picketfencemedia.com | Tom Blake

In my 31 years of writing about senior dating, I have avoided potentially controversial topics such as religion and politics. A third topic, senior sex, is a bit too touchy, so I only write about it occasionally. In my most recent March 13 column (“Too Much Senior Sex Too Soon”), I stepped out of my comfort zone and published an article based on a 56-year-old woman’s email to me about her short-lived sexual relationship with a 63-year-old man.

Mar 13, 2025 | picketfencemedia.com | Tom Blake

Ireceived an email from a woman who requested that I not use her true name. I will call her Liz. Liz wrote, “Tom, how much sex is realistic in a relationship when we are in our 50s and 60s, when our bodies slow down and things don’t always work so well? I feel like men expect a lot in that department. I have had many dates tell me they didn’t have intimacy in their marriages, and now they want and need it a few times a week. “I recently met and became involved with a man on Match.com.

Feb 27, 2025 | picketfencemedia.com | Tom Blake

Dana Point resident Susan emailed last week: “I've been reading your columns for years. Seeing you going through the horror of losing your soulmate in 2022 and you following your own advice to finding a new mate. “I'm 63, been single for 12 years. A couple of short-term relationships in between. I’m perfectly happy living by myself—thin, attractive and smart. Reading about health, the experts say that a meaningful relationship adds to your health.