I was barely 23 when I joined the dash site. I'm 33 now. What a difference 10 years makes. I had only been out of the closet for a year and I knew very little about the butch/femme dynamic. I was just heart-broken over a breakup and Google'd "butch femme" and it popped up.
I met one of my closest friends on that site and a few others who would lead me through some of the most profound awakenings (and painful lessons) of my life. I don't regret any of it.
Although I've recently had a set-back due to a very difficult breakup, I feel like life began at 30 for me. So much makes more sense now. I can't explain it. It's like puzzle pieces locking together. I don't mind age at all so long as I can be healthy, happy, and "with it" for the duration.
