Dating and Age range?

So this blog's topic is about age ranges and dating. I've met women in the past who I've chatted with, it seems like we'll click, but when they find out how old I am, they'll withdraw and suddenly become less interested. I have to wonder why this is. I've been rejected by 26 year-olds based on age. That's a THREE-YEAR age difference. Less than that if they just turned 26 this year, since I'll be turning 24 in a week and a half. So I have to wonder what the deal is.

I wouldn't say that I personally have much of a tight age range. I'd prefer a woman who's at least 21 probably, since it's always nice going out for a glass of wine or drinks together, but that's not really a necessity as long as we have fun. I would date upwards of about 10 years older than me (and I have... the oldest woman I've ever dated was 10 years older than me). Of course, I'd probably have to say 35/36 and over falls well out of my age range. I think the gap is really just too wide for it to reasonably work. But I'd expect that would change as I get older. But we'll cross that bridge once we get there. Besides, Ashton and Demi seem to be working out well enough... but I digest.

It's funny, women always seem to want older guys, and regardless of the type of person you are, if you're not AT LEAST their age (and often, even that isn't enough), they're just not interested. Like I mentioned before, the oldest woman I've dated is a whole 10 years older than me. And our thing worked out pretty well for some time. We're still good friends, and we still talk on a pretty regular basis. Yet a 25 year-old will still pass on me just because I fall out of her age range. We're in the same generation, no? So why is it such a huge deal?

Perhaps it is that older guys are implied to have their lives more together than us younger men? I've met 30 year-olds who still act like they're living out their wild college days, so that can't always be true. I'm working towards my career, it's a process, but I know it will pay off in the end. Maybe it's that they're afraid of being judged by their family and friends for dating a younger guy? Or maybe men and women are just so different that we'll never truly understand each others' motivations?

Hmm... what do you all think?