For context: I am 27, he is 46.

Historically, he has dated anywhere from early 20s to late 40s, with most falling around 30 so I never thought of him as particularly ageist.

Presently, we are vacationing on an island that seems to be teeming with older wealthy women. I have spotted a number of women in their 50s and 60s who are about as stunning as I imagine they could be. Basically their bodies are thin and toned and tanned and indistinguishable from those of a much younger women except for the veininess and crepey skin. Their hair is lush and on-trend. Their faces are beautiful, whatever plastic surgeries they must have had are undetectable. Their energies are bubbly and sweet and graceful.

Basically the only thing distinguishing them from a young knockout is that their skin is clearly that of a woman in her 50s/60s, even though it’s been smoothed and tucked etc.

My husband agreed that these women were lovely when I pointed them out, but that he couldn’t find them sexually attractive. Objectively they look better than me in every way except that I am young. I pressed, and eventually uncovered that he had never been sexually attracted to a woman over the age of 47, even though he himself is 46. He speculated that it might be fertility-related.

This frightens me, as it indicates that even if I manage to age as incredibly as these women have, there is just nothing I can do to retain his attraction.

All I can do is hope that love will be enough.