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One of the most common questions men ask when they start applying a non-monogamous dating model is about age. Specifically: what ages make sense for different relationship categories?

First and foremost, everything discussed here assumes the woman is of legal age where you live. That is not optional, negotiable, or something to play games with. Beyond that, personal preference matters. Some men are comfortable dating much younger women, some aren’t. That part is up to you.

The framework below is not about morality or social approval. It’s about what tends to work long-term with the least friction.

FBs: Wide Age Range, With One Key Caveat

For FBs, the age range is broad. As long as she is of legal age, an FB can realistically be anywhere from late teens to mid-40s or beyond.

However, there is one practical issue that becomes more common as women get older: ASD. This refers to internal resistance many women experience about casual sex due to social conditioning. While it can exist at any age, it tends to spike significantly after about age 33.

This doesn’t mean FBs over 33 are impossible. They are not. But they are more likely to come with complications unless:

• she already has another primary romantic interest, or
• she clearly frames you as a side connection from the beginning.

In most cases, the lowest-resistance FB dynamics occur roughly between the age of consent and the early 30s. Outside that range, it can still work, but it requires more calibration and awareness.

MLTRs: Wide Age Range

MLTRs have far fewer age restrictions than most men assume. Because an MLTR is not your girlfriend and does not come with long-term promises, the age requirements are simple: legal adult status and mutual interest.

A younger woman can be an MLTR. An older woman can be an MLTR. The key distinction is that you are not building a future with her, and she is not entitled to long-term expectations.

This is why MLTRs are flexible. You are enjoying time together without committing your future. As long as you follow the rest of the model—clear behavior, no false promises, proper pacing—age alone is not a disqualifier.

OLTR: Super Young Won’t Work

OLTRs are different because they involve long-term expectations. This is where age becomes critically important.

If you are choosing a woman you may realistically be with for 10, 15, or 20 years, you must factor in emotional maturity, identity stability, and life direction. A very young woman, even if she seems mature, is statistically far more likely to change dramatically over time.

This is why the youngest recommended age for an OLTR is 25, and even that is the lower bound, not the ideal. In practice, women in their late 20s and early to mid-30s tend to be far more stable choices for long-term relationships.

This is not about fertility myths or outdated traditional fantasies. It’s about consistency. Older women are generally less likely to radically change their goals, values, and identity every few years. That stability matters when you are making a long-term emotional investment.

Why Older OLTRs Often Work Better

Many men are surprised to learn that women in their 30s and even 40s can make excellent OLTRs. They are often more self-aware, more honest about what they want, and less prone to impulsive life changes.

While they may come with trade-offs—such as stronger boundaries or higher ASD—they also come with predictability. For long-term relationships, predictability is an asset.

Dating younger women casually can be fun. Building a long-term life with someone requires a different filter.

Putting It All Together

Here is the simplified logic:

• FBs: Legal age to early 30s is easiest; older is possible with caveats
• MLTRs: Any legal adult age that fits your preference
• OLTRs: Ideally late 20s and up; minimum 25, with older often being better

This framework is not about judgment or ideology. It’s about matching expectations to reality. Problems arise when men apply OLTR expectations to FBs, or FB logic to OLTRs. Age is simply one variable that helps keep those categories clean and functional.

If you understand what each relationship type is actually for, the age ranges tend to take care of themselves.

AI did NOT write this article. The article comes 100% from me and is 100% my content. However, AI was used to transcribe this content from some of my other social media which is why the voice is a little different. It’s still 100% my content and not written by AI. AI will never “write” my content!  Remember that you can always go to calebjonesblog.com and subscribe to my Substack if you want articles physically written by me with no AI involvement whatsoever.