I am in a relationship with a woman my age and for the most part the relationship checks all the boxes. However I struggle with wanting more excitement in my life. It kind of feels like I am trying to experience the life I didn't have in my 20's. I didn't do much in the realm of going out or going to parties or any casual dating. And I'm not even saying casual s3x, just casually meeting and hanging out. I worked and was working on a house I bought and spent so much time doing those things and becoming a responsible adult that I didn't really enjoy life per se. I thought I was doing the right thing and really don't have regrets for that.

Now lately I have these desires to do all the things I didn't do when I was younger and not tied down. I do go out here and there alone but have started considering pushing it a little and trying to meet the girls I was too scared to talk to or thought were out of my league. I never considered myself worthy of someone super attractive and I did a lot of settling. I don't feel as though I settled currently, just wondering and fantasizing I guess.

Of course I don't want to change my situation but my question is, how common is it for an older man to have a discreet relationship with a younger woman? And I don't mean a sugar relationship. Is it true that some women like being the "other woman"? Or is that something that some say to be edgy or forward to get attention virtually but if it came down to it they would never pursue it in real life?

I have approached this topic in another sub and got hammered with people pointing how terrible it is for me to even consider it, I get it, It's selfish and inconsiderate to my current relationship. But I am genuinely curious how common it really is?