I have a question for men who are in an open relationship, or have been in one: How did the experience compare with what you expected?
I’m curious about both sides of it—the advantages you actually enjoyed and the challenges that became clear once you were living it. Before it started, what did you picture? And how closely did everyday life resemble that picture?
The expectations interest me because they give the rest of the story some context. Someone hoping for more independence might have a different experience from someone hoping to explore new connections. I’d like to know what you personally wanted and whether the arrangement gave you that.
What did you have to work on? Were there conversations that turned out to be harder than expected, or feelings you hadn’t anticipated? I’m also interested in the practical side, if that mattered in your experience: time, plans, and making room for the relationships involved.
Then there are the good parts. What made you glad you tried it? Was there an advantage you hadn’t expected, something you only appreciated once the relationship was open?
If you’re still in that arrangement, I’m curious how your answer has changed over time. If it ended, I’d like to hear how you look back on it now.
The question I keep coming back to is a simple one, even if the answer takes a while: Knowing what it asked of you and what you got from it, was it worth it?
