In my mid-20s, I was in a couple of relationships that involved sharing my GF with other guys. This was a kink I knew I had going into it, and in the case of these two special women, I felt comfortable enough to share my fantasies and they were open (and keen) enough to want to explore.

I think there's a lot of advantages to trying this out when you're in your 20s. Being young, less settled, without a family but with disposable income, and being in some of the best shape of your life, and (in the girl's case) with no shortage of attention/opportunities from horned-up guys. Weddings, vacations with friends, bachelorette parties, grad school - all situations full of opportunity.

On the other hand, there's a number of downsides. Being younger means being less mature, and not having the language or interpersonal intelligence to navigate the complex feelings that often arise. While neither of my relationships ended because of this, there were disagreements along the way.

Is is good to try it while you're young, or wait until you're married? My view is that it's a little of both. I'm happy I got to experiment during a time in my life when I had the ability to do so. I learned a lot about my sexuality, my limits, and how I responded to jealousy/angst, which ultimately helped me navigate future relationships and eventually my marriage. So I sometimes look back thinking that if I had the mindset I have now, the choppy parts would have been smoother, but I have that mindset because I learned from my missteps.

Overall, I look back at my experiences with the sharing dynamic fondly, and would be open to experiencing them down the road. But I'd love to see how others feel.

How did you explore things while you were young and free? Or maybe you're currently in that phase now - how are things going with you and your partner?