Anonymous wrote:What other non physical activities would you consider cheating? Especially if done secretly.
Anonymous wrote:Anything that is taking time and effort away from your primary relationship, has the potential to damage it.
I say this as someone who was involved in a very explicit email relationship with a former flame for years. When the fallout happened, it was every bit as awful as a "full blown" affair, because it was, in a way.
We were able to repair our relationship, but it took a separation and a lot of counseling for me. Now, I see that had I been putting that effort in at home, it never had to come to that.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anything that is taking time and effort away from your primary relationship, has the potential to damage it.
I say this as someone who was involved in a very explicit email relationship with a former flame for years. When the fallout happened, it was every bit as awful as a "full blown" affair, because it was, in a way.
We were able to repair our relationship, but it took a separation and a lot of counseling for me. Now, I see that had I been putting that effort in at home, it never had to come to that.
My husband is happy with 20 minutes of missionary 4 or 5 times a month. Doesn't like any naughty texts, any buildup. It's a purely biological function for him. Sorry, but I need more than that. I'm taking nothing away from him by pursuing non physical relationships with others. If anything, he's relieved because I don't pester him constantly for sexual attention and I'm more content than the first 10 years of our relationship, during which time I didn't have any outside relationships.
Does your DH know about them though, and if not, would
It bother him?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anything that is taking time and effort away from your primary relationship, has the potential to damage it.
I say this as someone who was involved in a very explicit email relationship with a former flame for years. When the fallout happened, it was every bit as awful as a "full blown" affair, because it was, in a way.
We were able to repair our relationship, but it took a separation and a lot of counseling for me. Now, I see that had I been putting that effort in at home, it never had to come to that.
My husband is happy with 20 minutes of missionary 4 or 5 times a month. Doesn't like any naughty texts, any buildup. It's a purely biological function for him. Sorry, but I need more than that. I'm taking nothing away from him by pursuing non physical relationships with others. If anything, he's relieved because I don't pester him constantly for sexual attention and I'm more content than the first 10 years of our relationship, during which time I didn't have any outside relationships.
Anonymous wrote:Anything that is taking time and effort away from your primary relationship, has the potential to damage it.
I say this as someone who was involved in a very explicit email relationship with a former flame for years. When the fallout happened, it was every bit as awful as a "full blown" affair, because it was, in a way.
We were able to repair our relationship, but it took a separation and a lot of counseling for me. Now, I see that had I been putting that effort in at home, it never had to come to that.
Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's full-on cheating or not, but it does cross a boundary with me. Interacting with another live human being is a no-go. Porn? Fine. Reading stories? Fine. But texting, chat, calling phone sex lines (does anyone do that anymore? But just an example), email, replying to Craigslist messages - even if no intention to meet -- all too "real" and too close to the boundary for me to be okay with it. I say this as someone who enjoyed some chat and similar things when single, but it's just not okay (for us) when in a relationship IMO.