The Concept of Open Relationships

It has come to my attention that people are turning to alternative types of relationships in lieu of a committed and monogamous type of relationship. With the divorce rate on the rise, it seems that people are looking at alternative lifestyles and relationships to fulfill their needs without the boring day to day nuances of marriage and traditional relationships.

When I use the term alternative I should clarify. I do not mean heterosexual or homosexual in any specific terms. I mean that people are combining their lives in polygamy lifestyles, or triads, or quads or open relationships. The concept of an open relationship can take on many dynamics; it can be between a man and a woman or multiple other combinations. The concept that I will be discussing will be in a generic sense between a man and a woman.

I guess with the old adage in mind it's cheaper to keep her, some people are taking that to a whole new level.There are many couples who are allowing their spouse or partner to date and even have sexual relationships with other people. There are usually guidelines as in what boundaries are acceptable and which are not. Honesty is a key piece in these relationships, as without it, the realtionship will not work.

When two people such as a man and a woman decide that they do want to share their lives together, but feel that they are missing something, they may choose to have an open relationship. This usually entails that the couple is honest with one another about any other partners that they may have. This does not necessarily mean sexual partners; it can be companionships as well. For some people the ability to be with other partners may actually cause them to appreciate their spouse even more.

I have seen and personally know some people who partake in these types of relationships. A married couple that I know has been living with another woman for almost two years. In essence they have a triad relationship. They all work outside of the home and share a home and a life together. However I want to mention that there are no children involved. I am often surprised by how these three people are so connected to one another and truly love each other, not because I don't believe in love, but because a triad is such an unconventional method to have a relationship.

Financially it's a dynamic that is incomparable to most other relationships. They all make a decent living and have plenty of money to go around. Under the financial crunch for most Americans this type of situation is becoming more common. We see it in many shapes and forms, parents are moving home with their adult children, and families are beginning to combine residences to survive the tight economy and job losses.

While it is illegal to commit bigamy, the male counterpart of the relationship is only married to one woman, therefore making it legal. This of course may not be legal in all States. In some States, adultery consenting or not is illegal and punishable by law. It's easy to understand that people like to have a wide variety of choices, and therefore this type of relationship is up and coming in the modern world.