re: I love the shaming that I get from women for dating younger women.

When I was 35 I took a break from the dating gig...until I fell into a thing with a 22 year old mom (OT 9). I could not believe it. While it carried some risk as she was supervised by me (TOTALLY worth it) I was absolutely amazed at the reaction of women my own age. They were nice about it, but I found what the OP said to be true.

My judgment ended up really sucking. Nearly every woman I had a relationship with before marriage was 180 degrees off from what I expected them to turn out like. Most of the gals I thought were stable and good candidates for marriage have had a life of relationship strife and singleness. The ones I decided were not marriage material (including the OT 9 above) ended up living happy long term relationships.

Had my wife have not come around and been VERY patient and waited for my eventual proposal (big chicken here), I would be lost in a loop of messy relationships.

Very lucky...and I know it.