First off, I’m bragging celebrating a bit.

It’s true what they say; it IS like riding a bicycle; all the muscle memory comes back to you.

It is also true that if you’re not accustomed to it, either activity can leave you more than a little tender in certain spots. So you might want to take it easy before engaging in marathon sessions. (Not that I always take my own advice.)

[Note to self: Consider investing in some sexy underwear, unlike your everyday, white cotton, yeast-infection-resistant ginormous granny panties, Because sexy panties just might make undressing time a little less angst-ridden.]

OK – Get Lost

So, my OKCupid experience, plus that of Meetup, has been… interesting.

I’ve met or chatted with some handsome, smart, sextastic men. Apparently my age and weight issues are still not chasing them off. (This means, ladies, if there’s hope for me, there’s hope for you.)

I’ve been messaged by some men who are… losers not sympatico with what I’m looking for at this time in my life. Seriously, dude, if you are a conservative, strait-laced Republican who lives in Oklahoma, we are not going to be a thing. And if your follow-up to my polite blow-off message is to beg that I please, please, give you another chance, because you are willing to relocate, this does not make you sound more appealing, it sends up my stalker alert flags.

Seriously, if you are a man or woman who would want people to date you or have sex with you, not because they wanted to, but because they felt guilted or pressured into it, because they had weak boundaries and didn’t know how to firmly say no… Take a look in the mirror. You are part of rape culture.

Guys, if you are reading this, this is why you send out messages and usually never hear anything back; too many women have tried to “be nice,” to let a guy down gently, and ended up having to deal with creepers. Or dick pictures. DO NOT EVER, EVER SEND DICK PICS, UNLESS A WOMAN HAS SPECIFICALLY SAID, “Yes, I want to see that.”

It’s not easy for us. Most women were raised to be “nice.” I really don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, and am still learning to protect myself, rather than assume social responsibility for everyone else on the planet. Most of us have also dealt with persistent, unwanted admirers, or even been stalked, attacked, or raped by somebody we’ve barely smiled at.

We’d rather be considered just another heartless bitch, than stalker-bait.

Better yet, we’d rather live in a world where our bodies are respected as belonging to us, not to be assumed to be the property of the nearest male, be he a legislator or some horny dude who wants some.

This is why women walking the streets of New York (and many other big cities) may avoid eye contact and not respond to “friendly” greetings. Btw, if you have time, please look up the Twitter hashtag #DudesGreetingDudes, it’s wonderful.

Another reason I have mostly stopped sending out “Thanks, but no thanks” messages is because one of the guys I was chatting with told me this was actually cruel. That from his POV, guys would see they’d gotten a message back, get their hopes up, and then get hurt all over again by the rejection, however kindly worded. That being totally ignored did not sting nearly as badly as getting back an “I’m just not that into you,” email. (YMMV.)

Consent Means Asking Clearly for What You Want, & Accepting the Answer

Here’s a fabulous video that clearly explains, again, what consent is, and what it isn’t. Note: brief glimpse of dildos & sex toys. Also, language near the bottom of this post will be quite frank and explicit, if not erotic.

 

Good relationships (sexual and otherwise) are all about respecting the autonomy of the other person. The goal should always be not to satisfy yourself, while the other person feels used, betrayed, or hurt (Win-Lose). The goal should be finding a way to satisfy your own needs while the other person also feels satisfied (Win-Win), whether than is in selling a car for a fair price, or entering into a polyamorous relationship.

Again, No = Thank You for Taking Care of Yourself

This means that, as much as I’d love to post the juicy details of my newly revived sex life here, I need to get the permission of the people I’ve become involved with, or am about to get involved with, on exactly how much personal info it is okay to share.

I will say this. The sexytimes. Woo-hoo!

That said, I’ve already experienced some trickery and deception in recent connections, and have decided not to go forward with them. Because what kind of a relationship, even a FWB one, can I have with someone who is willing to lie to me to satisfy short-term needs?

Sex Contracts – They’re Not Just for Bondage Any More

Most people have heard of the infamous contract that kinkster Christian Grey presented to virginal Anastasia in 50 Shades of Grey. While cray-cray in many respects, it’s not a bad starting point for a sane woman – or man – to examine his/her erotic desires, and draw hard & soft limits (aka, boundaries). And for us to be discussing these things, in popular culture, is a VERY good thing.

For example, let’s say you’re in a monogamous marriage. What does cheating mean, to you? And to your partner? Is oral sex, or other forms of sexual contact that do not include PIV (penis-in-vagina) sex, cheating, or are they “not really sex?” (Thanks, Bill C.) Phone or cyber-sex? How about an emotional affair – there is no sex, nor even sexy talk, but your partner pours out his/her heart to another person who is not you. Is that cheating?

You may think those things go without saying, but many marriages have broken up over these kinds of affairs, where one person considers X “not really cheating,” and the partner partner thinks it most certainly is cheating, and feels a terrible betrayal of trust.

If you’re in an open or polyamorous relationship, either solo, or as part of an established group, what are the rules? Does everyone already on board need to approve every new potential partner before any sexual activity begins? Or is it DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) – it’s assumed you have activity elsewhere, but you are not to talk about it with your other partners? Is it a turn-on for your other partners if you bring home “bedtime stories?” Is it okay with your new lover to talk (or blog) to others about what you did in bed together? What are the agreements for STI testing and condom use? Dental dams (or Saran Wrap) for cunnilingus, a must-have, or okay to skip?

Assume = Ass + U + Me

As I begin this journey into Datingland, and exploring life as a solo polyamorous woman, I want to be careful both to protect myself, my current partner(s), and any partners I may be adding in the future, both physically, and emotionally.

That none of us has an extensive history together is is both a curse, and a blessing. It means that every single point of our relationships has to be discussed and negotiated. This is more than a little overwhelming when I consider all the variants.

On the other hand, the fact that we have to build each relationship from scratch means I get to discuss with each partner or potential partner exactly what he wants from our relationship, what desires or fantasies we have in common, how he feels about me disclosing details of our relationship to other lovers or on this blog, if he wants to hear “bedtime stories,” and most importantly, my own comfort level.

Are you happily married, or also adventuring in Datingland?
Have you ever had romantic or sexual assumptions bite you in the ass?
Your thoughts?