I think we've all asked ourselves this question, but it's not always something that's easy to put into words because it's complicated. But I get it, it's nice to have a sort of "script" that you can use in case friends or family asks why you're interested in someone so much older (or younger).

For me, it comes down to maturity. I enjoy being around people who I can speak to without a filter, without needing to look "cool", without needing to impress. I also love to be around people who I can learn from, who have something that I don't. I'm an introvert and my partner is a major extrovert, and he's brought me out of my shell a bit and helped offset some of my social anxiety. I value maturity, depth, openness, honesty as opposed to shallow, materialistic. It just so happens that older men usually have these things.

Of course, all the things I've mentioned here can be found in someone younger. But there's also the added bonus that older guys are just plain attractive. There's no way to explain why I'm so attracted to an older body - I just am. I've always had an affinity for old things like antiques, old architecture, old music, etc so I can probably attribute something to that. I also tend to go for the "underdog" in situations so in a sort of sick, messed up (self-righteous?) way, maybe I feel like I'm giving my partner something he wouldn't otherwise get? I feel like by dating older (or younger) men we're sort of blazing our own trail and I like that.

TLDR: It's complicated.