Dear John: I am a very youthful looking and acting 50-year-old man. I tend to attract and date women who are 10 to 15 years younger than myself. Sometimes, it's because I am attracted to them and do the pursuing, but most of the time, the attraction is mutual. Currently, I am very interested in a 33-year-old woman, and she seems interested in me. Is this 17-year age difference OK? She is OK with it, but what do you think? — Young at Heart, in Bakersfield, Calif.

Dear Young at Heart: When one partner is more than 10 years older than the other, social, emotional and — in later years — physical differences may become issues that place additional stress on the partnership. Still, May/December — or in this case, June/September — relationships don't have to fail because of a difference in ages.

If you want this new relationship to have staying power, then remember the key to success is threefold: mutual respect, demonstrated in both actions and words; ongoing personal growth for both partners; and continued passion. A relationship based solely on attraction will eventually fail. Of course, this is true in any partnership, May/December or any month in between.

Dear John: If someone was raised by only one parent and had a miserable childhood, can it affect how he or she treats partners? — Concerned, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Dear Concerned: The circumstance in which you were raised will most certainly have a significant influence on your adult behavior. Some of us try hard to live up to the example of our parents, while others have to try hard to overcome the emotional scars of their youth. I don't think the issue centers on whether a child is raised in a one- or two-parent home.

Of course, it is preferable to have two loving parents, but there are millions of single parents out there who are doing wonderful jobs loving and nurturing their children. As for what constitutes a great childhood, it's not how many toys you had, or whether you were popular or not, or whether your parents let you do everything you wanted to do. It is judged largely by the inspiration and respect you received during your formative years, and your ability to give this back to others now that you are an adult.

John Gray is the author of "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus." If you have a question, write to John in care of this newspaper or by email by going to www.marsvenus.com. All questions are kept anonymous and will be paraphrased. To find out more about John Gray and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.