Dating at 27 feels like swimming in a sea of trash, because that's all I keep

Dating tends to be different at different ages. I liked dating in the late 20’s and 30’s better than dating when younger. Some of the excitement and fluff wasn’t there- but people were much more mature and generally more open and straight forward. They knew what they wanted and didn’t bullshit around. Most people have some kinda baggage by that age- even if that baggage is being sheltered and having no “traditional” baggage- but I met so many awesome people who were anything but trash. The largest percent I met were some combination of goal oriented professional and those who had lived life a little fast in their youth and had learned the type of people they were meeting weren’t good for them and wanted to find someone who was just basically decent and responsible.

Dating at 38 is an absolute cesspit. Everyone thinks I'm in my 20s from the way I look so I manage some younger women every now and then but as far as settling down, this is a shitshow