undergroundsea
Posts: 2400
Joined: 6/27/2004 From: Austin, TX Status: offline
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I have had fun serving or playing with someone whom I had met at a party that night or that weekend. I have enjoyed beginning to serve or play with someone whom I have known socially for years. I have enjoyed knowing someone through online for over a year and playing upon meeting. I have had fun courting someone whom I found romantically or sexually attractive and then finding equilibrium in friendship. I have enjoyed relationships that began as friendship and remained the same. I have no particular rule for which pace to take and I let it occur organically. I believe that relationships can exist at different levels, which makes for different levels of compatibility and a range of what might be a suitable pace. For a long-term relationship, I think slow is better. That said, I think slow is subjective, relative and is defined by chemistry. When both people instinctly feel they have found a strong match, the pace can be faster than a case where the compatibility is still being determined. While I might be more hopeful about some introductions than others, I approach relationships or introductions without expecting a long-term relationship and let the chemistry define its course. I do not actively practice the friends first approach. For me, play is not for the sake of play itself (without regard to how I feel about the person) but does require some attraction, chemistry, and connection suited to the level of interaction that occurs. When I meet someone new, I enjoy the excitement of exploring that possibility as well the courtship, flirting, and whatever play that might occur. To me, it is similar to vanilla dating. There is an introduction and courtship which may or may not progress to dating, which may or may not progress to serious dating, which in turn may or may not progress to marriage or a similar deeper commitment. As the relationship progresses, so do change the type of activity and emotional investment and expression at a suitable pace. I think the same can be said for a D/s relationship. Sure, someone might transition from a friendship to any of the stages of a romantic relationship. However, more often a romantic relationship is pursued without first being platonic friends for a defined amount of time. Also, I don't think dating or courtship is necessarily antithetic to friendship. That is, during courtship or dating, there is usually an interpersonal connection that is being developed alongside any romantic and sexual exploration. I would prefer to pursue each component--friendship and romance--simultaneously with someone with whom I feel romantic attraction and consider to be a potential match. If the friends first scenario occurs with me, it would be by coincidence and not by design. My two cents. Cheers, Sea
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