You can visit any bar or party in a college town and almost guarantee everyone there is between the ages of 18 and 24, maybe 25. Of course you’ll have the few 26 year olds who graduated but never left town. And then randomly you’ll spot a middle-aged man trying to pick up a cute girl who is the same age as his daughter. But for the most part, everyone is the same age.

The scene outside of a college town is completely different though. The other week I met my girlfriends at Jackson’s Restaurant and Bar and fully proved my case. We were introduced to a table of four girls and three guys. After chatting with one of the guys for a while, I broached the subject of age. (We’ll call the guy Chad.)

“So, Chad, how old are you anyway?”

“I’m 37,” he responded with a straight face.

“No way! I don’t believe you. Not unless you’ve had Botox already,” I said, thinking his firm skin would at least look a little worn at age 37.

“Nope, I’m 37 and haven’t had Botox,” said Chad.

I’m a gullible person, but was having a hard time believing him. He sure didn’t look 37 to me. After arguing over the topic for a minute, Chad confessed he was in fact 28.

But does age really matter? When you’re in elementary school, absolutely! What Webkinz-loving fifth grader wants to read Cinderella for the third time in one day like a five year old? But whether someone is 24 or 29 doesn’t make much of a difference. Sure, one person will have had a few more serious relationships or worked more jobs, but the basic life experiences and maturity level are equal.

Now on a given night out I fully expect to meet a range of people who may be anywhere from 22 to 32. The older ones just may not be on Facebook.