You pose an interesting question, Rebel. I'm a 38 year old female, and up until now, I never thought I had an age preference where tickle play was concerned. My only requirement was that my 'ler be male and make high marks in the personality/sense of humor/creativity departments.
But in recent months I've been socializing a bit more on the TMF and noticed myself gravitating more towards men my own age. There have been some very sweet, funny, smart, 20-somethings that I've made friends with, and while I really enjoy corresponding with these guys, I realized that if the opportunity ever arose to actually meet one of them face-to-face, I don't think I could do it. I'm not sure when I made this realization, but I think it's been in the works since I hit my mid-30's.
It's not that I don't find these guys attractive, or that I don't think we'd have fun together. It's more about my ability to relate to them, and I think it would be a lot easier to relate to a guy my own age (or even up to 10 years older). We are at the same place in life - serious relationships/marriage (and all the ups and downs that go along with that), kids, life experience, etc. And I think the easier I can relate to someone, the more comfortable I'd be around them.
And also, I'll be totally blunt about this, there is a BIG difference (physically speaking) between the 20-something woman (that a 20-something guy is used to hooking up with), and a woman that is pushing 40 and has had a couple of kids. A woman who is still in her early 20's (for the most part) is in pretty good shape, her body hasn't succumbed to the unforgiving forces of gravity (ie. her boobs are still pretty much where she left them when she was 18), and she thinks that 'stretch marks' are a kind of exercise you do in yoga class. And I know that hooking up with a guy who is used to seeing women at their physical peak would make me HUGELY self conscious - A feeling I don't think I would have with a guy my age. Because a man in his late 30's or 40's has probably long since surrendered his unrealistic 'barbie girl' expectations because he knows that with his spare tire, love handles, and ear hair, the chances of him landing a girl like that is somewhere between slim and none.
That's not to say that he doesn't fantasize about her... same could be said about me - there are definitely a few hot young guys (especially in Hollywood) that have the ability to make me tingle from head to toe whenever I see them (ie. Taylor Lautner has fueled a few fantasies for me - makes me feel like a total pedophile! lol). But again, I don't think fantasy would translate very well into reality. Though Taylor, if you're reading this, I want you to know that I'd be willing to give it a shot anyway
And lastly, there is part of me that LOVES an experienced 'ler. A guy who has been at the tickling game long before the invention of the internet. A guy that doesn't need an instruction manual to figure out exactly how to play his 'lee because he's got a decade or two worth of tickle experience under his belt. A guy who doesn't need to wonder which tickling methods will work, because he's figured out through years of trial and error, what sends most 'lees through the roof. SO HOT.
Does that answer your question?
Maggie