Poly Relationships

[Ms. Meander]

Is anyone interested in picking up the discussion? I have been making some changes in how I approach intimate relationships and dating, and feel I could use some support and/or just a place to talk it out.

After some unsuccessful poly dabbling in my youth I gave it up for years of serial monogamy. The draw toward polyamory has never left me, though. And as I get older and grow wiser in so many other areas of my life, it seems more and more possible, no - necessary, for me to explore further. I feel entirely confident of my own ability to handle it well. I have a lot of self awareness, good communication skills, the ability to self-care, and I play well with others.

One thing is for certain: that I will be very selective about who I decide to become involved with. I need to be certain that others are meeting me on the same level, that we truly have something healthy to offer each other. I have lived and grown through too much bullshit to allow myself to get sucked into anyone else's emotional immaturity.

All of that said --- the adventure has already begun as I have recently begun to date someone who has a full poly lifestyle, with a primary, secondary, and play partners. It remains to be seen where I will fit in, if anywhere, but right now I am really enjoying her company and the overall experience. I am having my first opportunities to experience myself in relation to sharing and division of time. So far, it feels pretty good. I personally require so much time to myself that it is a relief not to feel pressured to be available all the time. And I know when I do see her I will cherish it all the more for the effort made to carve out special time just for us.

So, I think I've made a good start! I welcome any input.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Ms. Meander

All of that said --- the adventure has already begun as I have recently begun to date someone who has a full poly lifestyle, with a primary, secondary, and play partners. It remains to be seen where I will fit in, if anywhere, but right now I am really enjoying her company and the overall experience.

she sounds like a busy girl! Congrats on the experience tho. I wonder if she would be available if you needed her?

My own personal description of poly would be within a bdsm structure. I know that most poly relationships have rules about outside play partners. In my house there would be none of that. I would need to completely control all of that.

I think poly makes sense if you can make it work. Honestly I;ve only seen a few cases where it did and in all it was within a BDSM house. Then again I admit that I'm not entirely in the know. But I'd like to know others and explore this as an option. In my dreams I dream of having one femme and one boi. I think it would be perfect for me. I too need a lot of space and a lone time which makes a slave feel insecure at times.

[Ms. Meander]

Originally Posted by Sachita

she sounds like a busy girl! Congrats on the experience tho. I wonder if she would be available if you needed her?

My own personal description of poly would be within a bdsm structure. I know that most poly relationships have rules about outside play partners. In my house there would be none of that. I would need to completely control all of that.

I think poly makes sense if you can make it work. Honestly I;ve only seen a few cases where it did and in all it was within a BDSM house. Then again I admit that I'm not entirely in the know. But I'd like to know others and explore this as an option. In my dreams I dream of having one femme and one boi. I think it would be perfect for me. I too need a lot of space and a lone time which makes a slave feel insecure at times.

She is busy. Truth. But that works for me right now. At the moment I'm taking my time in this evolution and don't need more than "dating". I even hesitate to use the word "polyamorous" because it actually refers to a specific style of nonmonagamy but we tend to lump all others under that heading. (I've been reading the book Opening Up: A guide to creating and sustaining open relationships. It outlines several different styles including but not limited to - partnered nonmonogamy, swinging, polyamory, solo polyamory, polyfidelity, and mono/poly combos). I don't really know yet exactly where I'll land and I'm all about exploring openly. And in the meantime, or really as a part of that, I'm still requiring intimacy.

There is also a BDSM component to all of this for me. The person I'm dating certainly has that going on and I am appreciating learning about how that all works for her. Mostly, I am hooked on the openness and honesty that she is displaying. It is so refreshing. My own self in relation to BDSM is something that is evolving too. Historically I have been strictly submissive and have even engaged in a couple of full-time D/s relationships. However I feel something shifting for me there. I'm still a sub but feel something new coming to the surface. Like I'm part girl and part Mama - both equally valid. Not entirely sure what to do with that yet. Perhaps I should take that to the BDSM exploration thread where I've been lurking a bit lately anyway.

So. I am an ever-evolving work in progress who wants it all while I figure it out. Is that so much to ask? I know it's a lot but I really think it's possible. Perhaps my Pollyanna is showing?

[girl_dee]

Hi there!

i'm glad to see you trying again if that is what you wish for. i've learned quite a lot about myself over the last 2 years and much more about others.

i've always been wired for poly but needed someone who was 100% honest, trusting and fully devoted to leave me feeling confident enough to avoid all feelings of jealousy.

One thing is for sure, ANY iota of dishonesty or hidden agenda will crumble the circle.

it was once described to me as a spider web, and if one of the spiders anywhere on the web pulls. the whole web pulls, it may not fall but it's felt by everyone involved.

How true that has been for us.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by girl_dee

Hi there!

i'm glad to see you trying again if that is what you wish for. i've learned quite a lot about myself over the last 2 years and much more about others.

i've always been wired for poly but needed someone who was 100% honest, trusting and fully devoted to leave me feeling confident enough to avoid all feelings of jealousy.

One thing is for sure, ANY iota of dishonesty or hidden agenda will crumble the circle.

it was once described to me as a spider web, and if one of the spiders anywhere on the web pulls. the whole web pulls, it may not fall but it's felt by everyone involved.

How true that has been for us.

I think dishonesty in any relationship is sucky. I hate secrets and being in the dark.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Sachita

I think dishonesty in any relationship is sucky. I hate secrets and being in the dark.

Very true but the difference is that many people are directly affected where a poly relationship is concerned.

[*Anya*]

The woman I am involved with has a long-term butch friend that lives in OR.

Her friend lives in a compound-type setting with 2-3 other butches, each with their own small house.

The femme of the group has her own small house.

They all have their own chores and jobs in the compound and each has their own day/night with the femme.

They all get along and all are friends.

To me, on the face of it, it sounds like an awesome fantasy but in practicality, it would be very difficult. I don't know if it takes a special kind of person to be able to do this in real life but it would be very hard for me.

No judging at all here.

I just know myself and what I could do and not do. Poly would not be a life I could live.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by *Anya*

The woman I am involved with has a long-term butch friend that lives in OR.

Her friend lives in a compound-type setting with 2-3 other butches, each with their own small house.

The femme of the group has her own small house.

They all have their own chores and jobs in the compound and each has their own day/night with the femme.

They all get along and all are friends.

To me, on the face of it, it sounds like an awesome fantasy but in practicality, it would be very difficult. I don't know if it takes a special kind of person to be able to do this in real life but it would be very hard for me.

No judging at all here.

I just know myself and what I could do and not do. Poly would not be a life I could live.

i think in some way, our farm will be just what you described, only no sex or play amongst everyone.

[DamonK]

I am currently in a poly relationship. I've 2 partners under the same roof. I spend time with both of them individually and as a group. Sometimes I sleep with one. Sometimes with another. Communication is paramount. As is trust. Technically, MBE is primary. I will discuss things with her before going to my other partner usually. However, my time is pretty equal. And there are times that I cannot spend with either.... Such as finals week in school. They work together to support me so I can be a student.

The biggest change I would make is I don't have a room of my own. Sometimes, I don't wanna sleep with either of them! Maybe I wanna lay in bed and talk on the phone until I or the other person falls asleep. Maybe I wanna read. Maybe I just wanna be alone. I told them both, if we should move, I want my own room. I would be ok with primarily living with MBE and then living with my other partner for some of the time.

I would accept a 3rd. That is it though.

[Ms. Meander]

Originally Posted by girl_dee

Hi there!

i'm glad to see you trying again if that is what you wish for. i've learned quite a lot about myself over the last 2 years and much more about others.

i've always been wired for poly but needed someone who was 100% honest, trusting and fully devoted to leave me feeling confident enough to avoid all feelings of jealousy.

One thing is for sure, ANY iota of dishonesty or hidden agenda will crumble the circle.

it was once described to me as a spider web, and if one of the spiders anywhere on the web pulls. the whole web pulls, it may not fall but it's felt by everyone involved.

How true that has been for us.

Honesty. Yes. I need it. Secrets literally make me ill. I am very intuitive and empathic so when something is being kept from me, I sense it. Sometimes I can name it and sometimes it just makes me ill - especially when I try to name it and it is denied by someone else. I just have no space and tolerance for that. Even if the truth is hard, I find it much more acceptable than the alternatives!

I know it can get complicated the more people you add. I know I can do it and that gives me faith that others out there can too. I think I'm prepared for some trial and error, and perhaps some disappointments. But that's part of life, right? What I can do is be my best self and attract the same. I'm here to learn. With an absolutely open and loving heart.

[QueenofSmirks]

Originally Posted by Ms. Meander

Is anyone interested in picking up the discussion? I have been making some changes in how I approach intimate relationships and dating, and feel I could use some support and/or just a place to talk it out.

After some unsuccessful poly dabbling in my youth I gave it up for years of serial monogamy. The draw toward polyamory has never left me, though. And as I get older and grow wiser in so many other areas of my life, it seems more and more possible, no - necessary, for me to explore further. I feel entirely confident of my own ability to handle it well. I have a lot of self awareness, good communication skills, the ability to self-care, and I play well with others.

One thing is for certain: that I will be very selective about who I decide to become involved with. I need to be certain that others are meeting me on the same level, that we truly have something healthy to offer each other. I have lived and grown through too much bullshit to allow myself to get sucked into anyone else's emotional immaturity.

All of that said --- the adventure has already begun as I have recently begun to date someone who has a full poly lifestyle, with a primary, secondary, and play partners. It remains to be seen where I will fit in, if anywhere, but right now I am really enjoying her company and the overall experience. I am having my first opportunities to experience myself in relation to sharing and division of time. So far, it feels pretty good. I personally require so much time to myself that it is a relief not to feel pressured to be available all the time. And I know when I do see her I will cherish it all the more for the effort made to carve out special time just for us.

So, I think I've made a good start! I welcome any input.

Ms Meander, first of all, congratulations on your new journey I can truly relate to the first part of the sentence I highlighted in your post - it's one of the things I recognized about myself at some point, and is a fundamental component of why I am poly. However, I find at times I have to reassert those boundaries so that I *can* have time to myself.

I have more to say, but I have to be out the door in 30 minutes, so will continue later!