I'll just get down to brass tacks here: I'm 34, I live with my grandparents. I do help take care of them. I'm not sititng around being a lazy piece of shit, playing video games, etc. I'm actually in medical school now, I'm in the process of establishing long-term sobriety (several months so far) after spending quite a few years getting shithoused and making terrible decisions. I've started lifting this past summer, and I'm a decent looking guy. I have more outward confidence than most guys I meet, it surprises even myself at times as to where exactly it comes from, considering the messy trajectory of my life so far. I've just always been affable, ever since I was a kid.

From my own perspective, I'm doing a HELL of a lot better than I was even just a few years ago. But to a woman, especially let's say a younger woman in her 20s, my current situation must look really unnattractive. It sucks because I'm at medical school and there are obviously wayyy more women there than men. I'm like a novelty to most of the girls in my classes there. Many of them openly chat and flirt with me, and I met a really cool chick during the past month who I've just asked out on a date.

My question is whether or not I should even be trying to fuck with girls right now, that is beyond a random hook up. If it's just a random hook up, then I could spit some crafty game and navigate my way over to their place for the night, not even bring up the fact that I live at home. Anything beyond that though, just doesn't seem practical. Hell, if I was a chick, I would be almost certainly turned off by it. I've been trying really hard to change my life but I just had this moment today where I was reminded of all these factors working against me, and ended up feeling like what's the point? I'm mostly looking to date girls younger than me (mid-late 20s ideally). But knowing that some girl who is 5-10 years younger than me has her own place at least, and I don't, is vastly embarrassing and humiliating.

I would really be interested in hearing from anyone here who has lived at home in at least say their late 20's or older, and managed to successfully date women, or more specifically managed to have an actual GF.

Thanks.