What a lovely post! Very sincere and well written. In regards to growing older as a woman and the male gaze... It's a funny thing isn't it? My partner and I have an age gap of 9 years, her being older than I. I'm in my late 30's. But after being friends for ten years, and being together two and a half I still think she is one of the most beautiful women I have set eyes on. As a male I never feel the need to look elsewhere, and that sense has grown stronger every year that has passed since we first met. When we are out in public I occasionally get hit on by the early twenties war paint make up type, but I always defer them to her to deal with. She doesn't wear make up, and is beautiful inside and out with little to no effort. When compared to the artificial beauty others aspire to she stands out like a bright light of what I've always sensed the original template for beauty has been. In short my male gaze is firmly in one direction. Mainly because the traits that are indisputably beautiful are a sense of adventure, curiosity, a love of the natural world, and an empathetic soul that's kind. Let's face it... there is no make up, Botox, or implant that will remedy an ugly soul or effectively make that soul beautiful. Rot always shows through the high dollar Dior veneer, just like beauty shows through ones bearing, sense of awareness, and kindness. I've always felt the instagram/celebrity standard of beauty was f****ing awful anyhow. I've always recoiled at it.... it's sorta struck me as symptomatic of confusion, or an effort by those who aspire to it to fill a void with attention rather than something meaningful. None of this is me "advising" on what makes a woman beautiful btw. Just sharing a perspective. There are some who would disagree with it, but to each their own. In regards to your selfies, you both look great. Like two human beings who enjoy the natural world and each other. You also don't look your age so take the compliment. Not trying to be over flattering here, again sharing a perspective. If I thought you looked your age I'd just not mention it. lol. It's an awesome post matey, like most of your work here. Thanks for sharing it. :)