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You just heard the news from your cousin that your ex-high school sweetheart is getting hitched. It’s enough to make any die-hard bachelorette think, “Gee, maybe I should get cracking and find my fiancé-to-be.” But get real—while a rock, airborne rice, and two kids might be your ultimate goal, why not take advantage of your single years and experiment a little? Boldly sample the man menu—an older guy here, a bad boy there—and not only will you spread your wings emotionally, but once you walk down that aisle, you won’t wonder: What if I had made the moves on that gorgeous lawyer? Cosmo found five born-to-stay bachelors you should check out—then sweetly check off your list—before you tie the knot.

Bachelor 1: The Older Man
“When I met Steven, I was 23 and he was 38,” says Janine, 25. Steven had a touch of distinguished gray hair, drove a BMW, and—most important—treated Janine like a queen. “He bought me expensive gifts, took me to fancy restaurants, and ordered really good wine, which of course he knew all about,” she says. “He introduced me to experiences beyond my years and means, which made me feel so worldly.”

Passion payoff: If you’re used to hanging with guys who still think fart jokes are funny, a more seasoned man can be refreshing. “An older man will also give you a mature outlook on your angst-ridden youthful years and teach you a thing or two in the bedroom,” says Kate Wachs, Ph.D., author of Dr. Kate’s Love Secrets (Paper Chase Press, 2000). Plus, the distinct age difference will suffuse your liaison with forbidden sexual energy.

When you’ll move on: While it works for some women, others find a much older man stifling. “Equality between partners is crucial, and in this relationship, he could have the upper hand,” says Helen Friedman, Ph.D., a Saint Louis clinical psychologist. “Since he may feel he knows what’s right due to his age, you may find yourself sacrificing your own opinions and feelings.” You may also get sick of playing trophy girl. One final reason to ditch your old man: You’ll think his buddies are bores, and he’ll think yours act like kids.

Bachelor 2: The Boy Toy
“Jaime was one of my students,” says Amy, 26, a college professor. “He walked in late on the first day of class, and I immediately thought he was hot. But he was 18 and I was his teacher!” It soon became obvious that Jaime wanted more than help on his homework, and Amy pulled a Mrs. Robinson. “He was a virgin, and I loved enlightening him,” she says. “He was the most devoted and tireless lover I ever had.”

Passion payoff: Not only is this young stud’s equipment in mint condition, he’s eager to learn how to use it. And you’ll get a kick out of showing him. “Younger men can make a woman feel like a seductress,” says Friedman. “Since you’re the experienced one, you get the chance to take the lead role, and that power can be a rush.”

Why you’ll move on: You want a candlelit dinner, he wants McDonald’s. You may be searching for a soul mate, he may just be sowing his wild oats. This life-experience gap can become more obvious when you hang with each other’s friends. “The one night I went out with my boyfriend’s buddies, they looked at me like I was his mother,” says Meg, 31, of her former 24-year-old flame. “All they could talk about was sports and TV. I was beyond bored.” Baby-sitting his juvenile side will eventually get so annoying you’ll cut him loose.

Bachelor 3: The Artiste
“Jason was a lead singer in a band. The first night I saw him perform, I was starstruck,” says Mylene, 27. She made her move and held him as her (willing) hostage for months in her flat. “I loved his bohemian lifestyle,” she says. “And he wrote me love songs!”

Passion payoff: “If you work 9 to 5, dating an artist is like a mini-vacation,” says Friedman. “He represents a freedom your desk job doesn’t provide.” It also lets you play the muse (major vanity booster) and encourages you to cultivate your artistic side—he wouldn’t be with you if you were a buttoned-down bore, right? And his creativity may carry over into the bedroom.

Why you’ll move on: The first few times he awakens you at 3 A.M. to say he’s had an inspiration and needs to share it will be cute—then it’ll get annoying. And if he lolls in your bed until noon?

Since you can’t join him, you’ll probably get jealous—especially if you’re usually footing dinner bills due to his inconsistent paychecks. Deep down, he may see you as a sellout, or worse, a free ride. That’s when to buy him a one-way ticket out of your life.

Bachelor 4: Arm Candy
“My last boyfriend could have been a model,” says Tina, 26. “When my friends met him, their jaws dropped. It was a total turn-on to see women drool over him when deep down, I knew he was all mine.”

Passion payoff: The upside is obvious. He looks fabulous on your arm at a party, tangled in your bedsheets, or even clipping his toenails into your toilet. “Beauty is the most basic aphrodisiac,” says Wachs. “Women often downplay the importance of a guy’s looks, which is their loss, since being with a gorgeous guy can boost your confidence.” He looks good, you look good, and everyone assumes you have something—sparkling wit? astounding in-the-sack-savvy?—that keeps him at your side.

Why you’ll move on: You can only wait so long for a guy to finish primping his do. “Beautiful people are used to getting lots of attention, and that can grow tiresome,” says Wachs. “And women will be flirting with him.” With him constantly in the spotlight, you may soon realize you can’t handle taking a back seat to your beau.

Bachelor 5: The Bad Boy
“Kevin drank a lot, smoked, and had a tiger tattoo on his arm,” says Karen, 25. “He was always making outrageous comments, quitting jobs, and didn’t give a crap what other people thought of him.” Karen’s girlfriends told her to steer clear, but she found Kevin’s irreverence irresistible.

Passion payoff: Mickey Rourke. Sean Penn. The old Robin Padilla. The badder they were, the more babes they got. Why do women insist on trolling the wrong side of the tracks? “When a woman is still finding out who she is, this guy might help her define her limits,” says Friedman. Plus, you can wallow in his wanton behavior—in the bedroom and beyond—which makes for a truly wild romance.

Why you’ll move on: While a life of vice is fun for a while, most women eventually grow out their bad-boy phase. “Once women learn how far out they want to go, they don’t need to be around a guy who pushes them,” says Friedman. And if you ever try to rehab his sorry butt, you’ll realize you’re wasting your time and lose this dude before he drags you down with him.