Open relationships - An introduction

An open relationship is one that is based on honesty, communication and a willingness to suspend the notion that monogamy is the cornerstone to a successful relationship.

As I have learned in the three years that my Husband and I have been "open", monogamy does not have to predetermine our success as a couple. 

However for us, honesty and communication do, and so we make a decidedly concerted effort to uphold these particular values, ones which we hold dear, in order to make our open relationship work. We may choose to go against the societal grain by choosing non-monogamy but we are still a committed couple with integrity and yes, values. Just like monogamous couples, those of us in open relationships carry a certain code of ethics which may or may not be similar to yours or others, but manage to work all the same because it is how we define it.

There are many different types of open relationships. The young couple who are dating in college, perhaps are in love but want to "play the field" a little before they decide to get married. The middle-aged couple whose after dark activities have become a little stale, a bit lack-luster and non-spontaneous so they decide to bring another person into the fray to experiment. The couple who were individually sexually adventurous before marriage, found themselves in a sexual rut after many years and so decide to start going to swinger's bars once a month to mix things up. The couple where one of the partners discovers after years of psychological suppression that he or she is actually bi-sexual or gay and so discussion and dialogue spark an interest in exploring this newfound facet of themselves. The quad who has lived together for years divvying up household duties, splitting child-rearing duties and sharing spouses. The list literally goes on and on and on.

My plan here as your Open Relationships Examiner is to do exactly that, examine and bring awareness to open relationships; how they can work successfully, why people are beginning to consider an open relationship as an alternative to traditional ones, and my own experiences and social commentary surrounding open relationships and all its variances. I welcome questions, comments and friendly dialogue free of judgment. I will also post local events and happenings around Austin as they pertain to open relationships.

I welcome you on this journey of examining open relationships with me, from my own point of view as a married woman in an open marriage. 

It should be a fun ride.