BY BONNIE LEE STRUNK

Special to The Press

At a recent outdoor event, I overheard two older men, who obviously had not been in touch for a while, greeting each other.

“I’m divorced for the second time,” one said.

“Me, too,” replied the other. “I’m putting myself out there again. It’s interesting.”

“Interesting” is an understatement, according to a number of single friends, ages 60 to the 80s, who have jumped back into the dating pool.

When older people become divorced or widowed, life changes dramatically, in many ways.

I know this firsthand.

I was widowed when I was young and, then for the second time, four-and-a-half years ago.

Believe me, the dating game is not what it was 50 years ago.

The rules have changed.

Women who decades ago waited for men to make the first move and pursue them are now essentially placing ads for dates on the online marketplace.

Meeting available, suitable partners is much more difficult for mature men and women.

Some friends who have used dating sites on the Internet have had bizarre experiences, just as many have had with personal ads in newspapers and magazines decades ago.

To be sure, many good potential dates await discovery, and three women I know met their husbands on an online dating site. But frequently the attributes touted in profiles turned out to be considerably more ordinary than advertised.

According to sociologists, we look for a partner to complete us when we are young — someone who makes up for what we are lacking.

Physical attraction is also more important to the younger set.

But older individuals search for partners who have qualities they admire, such as shared interests, values and political views.

And they look for inner attractiveness, not just outward beauty.

Older couples, especially those retired, put more emphasis on having fun, and they truly enjoy being in each other’s company.

Cupid’s arrow can strike anyone, even if the person is not actively looking for a partner.

One is never too old to be bitten by the love bug.

Indeed, several folks I know have developed romantic relationships with someone they have known for years as a friend or neighbor or co-worker.

I, myself, am dating a man I met and worked with while both of us were volunteering at the same organization.

We knew each other as co-workers for two years before the spark ignited.

For seniors who want to meet potential compatible dates, many avenues exist besides the dating sites on the Internet.

Local senior centers offer numerous classes and groups and social events where like-minded individuals can meet.

One man in his 70s whom I know met his sweetheart a year ago while taking dance lessons.

Another couple met at a book club.

Still others find unexpected romance at gyms, swimming pools and garden clubs.

Churches often sponsor various groups that offer opportunities to meet new people.

And, don’t forget about the countless organizations that need volunteers.

Whether one is interested in theater or animals or museums or music or helping the homeless, volunteering is a great way to meet folks who share commonality.

Even a puzzle can bring people together.

For one woman, love blossomed at her retirement community when she met a fellow resident while working on a complex puzzle in the facility’s common room.

As one friend who married for the first time in her late 60s says, “You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find your prince.”

Obviously she waited for the right one.

No one is ever too old for love.

Many single seniors have discovered that the fires of romance still burn at twilight.