Hi, I’m Kayla Sox. I’m 62, I bake too many cookies, and I have two grandkids who think I’m funny. After a long marriage and a quiet spell, I tried online dating last winter. I was nervous. My thumbs shook on that first message. But you know what? It wasn’t so scary. Sometimes sweet. Sometimes messy. Always human.
Why I Even Tried This (And Why I Almost Didn’t)
I missed talking to someone at night. Not the weather talk. The real kind. I also like my own space. That’s a weird mix, right? I wanted slow and kind. No games. So I told myself: one month, one app, see what happens.
Then I tried three. I know. I know. I got curious.
Before I even downloaded my first app, I skimmed this straightforward senior-dating primer and it calmed my nerves a notch. Reading another grandmother's candid review of granny online dating finally gave me the nerve to hit “download.”
What I Used, With Real Stuff That Happened
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OurTime: The sign-up felt simple. Big buttons. Big text. I liked that. I set my age range to 60–75 and distance to 25 miles. My profile said: “Grandma, gardener, church choir alto, laughs loud, brings snacks.” I added three photos: me with sunflowers, me at the lake in a red raincoat, and one with my griddle flipping pancakes.
First message I got? “Are those blueberry pancakes?” from a man named Luis. He sent a smile emoji and a photo of his dog. We traded recipes. He makes lemon bars that stand up on their own. We did a video call on Sunday at 4, both with tea. He showed me his herb pots. I showed him my messy kitchen. It felt normal.
Curious about what other seniors were saying, I later browsed the OurTime.com Reviews: Written By Customers in 2025 to compare notes with a wider crowd. -
SilverSingles: The questions were longer. Kind of like homework, but the good kind. It matched me with Harold, 71, retired mail carrier. He used the voice note feature. His voice was warm, slow, careful. We met at the library café at noon. He wore a blue cap and brought a crossword. We talked about crossword clues and grandkids. We split a cinnamon roll. We did not rush.
Before meeting Harold, I’d checked out the SilverSingles Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of silversingles.com to make sure the community felt genuine and safe. -
Facebook Dating: I know, sounds odd. But it pulled people near me who also go to the farmers market. I matched with a widow named Jean’s brother, Ron, 68, who loves tomatoes. We kept it inside the app for a while. No numbers yet. He sent a photo of his raised beds. I sent mine. We met at the garden center, walked the aisles, and picked out thyme. We both laughed when the basil set off my allergies. Cute, but also real. Finding someone who had also walked beside grief reminded me of an insightful article on dating after losing a spouse and how much courage it takes to start again.
The Good Parts (The Stuff That Made Me Smile)
- It’s easy to start slow. A “hi” can be enough.
- Filters help. I could set faith, distance, and “non-smoker,” which saved time.
- Video chat saved me more than once. One man said he was “local,” but his room had palm trees outside the window. In January. Here. Nope.
- I liked the little prompts. OurTime asked, “What’s a perfect Sunday?” I wrote: “Choir, soup, a nap.” People actually answered that.
I also loved the tiny care moments. Ron texted, “Get home safe,” and waited for my “home!” reply. Simple. Kind. It meant a lot.
The Not-So-Great (Let Me Be Honest)
- Paywalls everywhere. On OurTime and SilverSingles, I had to pay to read full messages or see who “liked” me. I did a month on each. Worth it? For me, yes—but I wish they’d let you try one real chat for free.
- Small pond. After three weeks, I saw the same faces over and over. Lots of fishing vests. Lots of fish.
- Scams show up. One man said he was “on a ship” and needed a “gift card.” I reported and blocked. The apps made that part easy.
- Ghosting happens at our age too. One man sent four sweet notes, then vanished. It stung, but then I remembered: I want steady, not flashy.
That “repeat faces” problem made me toy with stepping outside the apps—maybe even signing up for a local speed-dating night after I read one woman’s laugh-out-loud account of a Denver event.
Tech note: SilverSingles ran slow on my old iPad. I had to restart it twice. I’m patient, but still.
Real Dates I Went On (The Part Everyone Asks About)
- Coffee with Harold at the library café. He did the crossword in pen. He also asked before hugging. I liked that. We met again for a matinee. The movie was terrible; the company was not.
- Garden center walk with Ron. We smelled every rosemary plant. He held my tote while I checked labels. We had soup after. He paid; I brought cookies next time. It felt fair.
- Video cooking with Luis. We made lemon bars at the same time on video. Mine were too pale. His were perfect. We laughed, a lot. He mailed me his recipe card later. On paper. That won me over a little.
No wild sparks. Warm sparks. The kind that last through March.
If, instead of these slow-burn connections, you’re curious about arranging something more casual—maybe you just want a clear, no-strings-attached companion—take a peek at these fool-proof steps to getting a fuck buddy, which break down boundaries, safety tips, and etiquette so both parties know exactly what they’re signing up for from the start.
For readers living in South Carolina who would rather skip traditional dating apps altogether and jump straight to local, no-strings personal ads, consider browsing Backpage Sumter — the page curates up-to-date listings from people in and around Sumter seeking everything from casual coffee meetups to discreet companionship, letting you quickly scan opportunities and decide if something feels right before you ever hit “send.”
Stuff I Wish Someone Told Me
- Write one honest line. Mine was “I’m brave on Tuesdays.” It started great chats.
- Use three photos. Face, hobby, and “proof of life” (today’s paper or your garden now).
- Keep dates in the day. Noon feels safe. Public places only.
- Share your plan. I text my daughter my location and a time to check in.
- Let the app call you. Some apps let you talk without sharing your number. Use that first.
- Ask a soft question. “What does your morning look like?” tells you a lot.
Little Things That Worked For Me
- I wore bright colors in photos. Red raincoat helped folks spot me.
- I kept messages short, sweet, and real. “I bake too much. You?” worked better than a long story.
- I said “no, thanks” clearly when I needed to. Kind, but firm. Then I moved on.
My Take, Plain and Simple
Granny online dating works when you keep it gentle and safe. It’s not magic. It’s more like soup on the stove—low heat, steady, good in time. I found two steady friends and one slow, early romance. I’m still texting Ron about tomatoes. We’ll see.
Would I pay again? Yes, for a month at a time. I’ll keep OurTime for now and peek at Facebook Dating when the garden wakes up.
Score? 4 out of 5 for ease, kindness, and real connection. Minus one for paywalls and the odd fake profile. But for me, it’s worth it.
If you’re scared, I was too. Send one message. Wear your red coat. Bring a cookie. And please—text someone when you get home.
—Kayla Sox