I am a straight cis man and recently divorced. I decided I wanted to start dating again and downloaded Bumble. The first time I saw ENM in a profile I had to google it to find out what it meant.

I wasn’t interested in being poly when I was married or in other long term relationships, but I am not looking for another one of those. I just want to experience different relationships for a while, but want meaningful connections from them, not just sex.

It dawned on me that there might be a way I could get that with more than one person at a time, in a way that was, well… ethical. It just takes being okay with those people doing the same. Right now, I think I’m okay with that.

So I guess I’m wondering if this is a thing, for a person who doesn’t have a primary partnership to have relationships with people who do. Is there a term for that? Is it frowned upon? Is it common? Obviously, I’m totally new here, but want to understand as mush as I can. Thanks.