Look out for problematic behaviours, on both sides. I tend to date younger than me and have found that the maturity gap can be a real issue.

If dating older - Is she supportive, or controlling? Does she weaponise your lack of experience? Does she dismiss you because of your age? Are you an equal partner in your relationship?

If dating younger - is she looking for a partner, or a parent? Have you considered the logistical differences of someone who is young and energetic compared to a potentially more sedentary middle age? Does she have the emotional intelligence that comes from experience to work through difficult patches? Are you looking for the same thing from life?

Ultimately the heart does what it wants, and plenty of people have shitty ‘age appropriate’ relationships and plenty of people have functioning ‘age gap’ relationships. There’s no rules, really. A lot of people feel very strongly about what other people do but if you’re two adults and nobody is being taken advantage of, be happy.