Gina, the first part of your post is the reason I think there are so many divorces in this country.
I think that after the woman turns 40/50 and her looks start fading the shallow guys don't know how to hanlde having to talk to and communicate with a person rather than just staring at her and the marriage falls apart. I think women are a lot more accepting of a man growing older and looks fading then a man is of a woman.