Ok, first blush at this subject and I was ready to post once and then move on.
But leave it to a woman and her perspective to get a man to speak up...
Hello Ariane.
Thank you for expressing you opinion. You have caused me to think about this a little more.
The fun loving side of me says...
While I am in Quebec and I have sex, I do not have it in English, I have it in French.
While I am at back in US, I have obviously have sex in English.
Must not be cheating if it is in a different language. Right?...LOL
Seriously though...
Based in religious belief and the opinion of the moral majority, sure it is cheating. The decision on whether we are ok with it is up to each one of us.
I see how any if us (as people) can justify any behavior (in their mind) to make themselves feel better and have it feel right.
It is funny how we as humans can find a way to do that (about almost anything). Not that it is bad because I believe it is the basis (coupled with our personal values) for the justification of every decision we make. We have to feel good about what we do after we decide to do. In all cases, it is a personal choice to decide whether something is right or wrong / good or bad. Then we each live with our decisions.
It is how society views the behavior that makes it proper or improper in the minds of the majority...thus the need for total discretion.
Obviously those of us discussing it here are ok with it for any number of reasons.
Relative to a woman being upset more over emotional than sexual cheating - in my opinion it does not matter. She will be upset.,,,period
I believe that you are absolutely correct when you say each of our own well being, sanity, and stability is much more important than any relationship.
Being sexually fulfilled is important...but so is being intellectually and emotionally fulfilled. As humans we are social creatures by nature (some more than others, but we are all social) - we need interaction with others. Interpersonal relationships with everyone we meet are different. Some are more important and meaningful than others. The sum of all realtionships held by any one person and what we learn from each of them is what makes us each unique and whole.
Ok and on your other comment...
You are right that there should always be NSA...period. The difference with the mistress is she eventually wants to compete with the wife for the prize...bad thing to have happen.
So much for the man of few words.