Spring Break
A season made for love
John Bailey
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Focus
Springtime! The birds, the bees, the gross allergies and the schoolwork stress. And the relationship power struggles. And the I'm-too-busy-gotta-do-works, the hey-wait-you-said-that-last-time-and-you-just-played "Street Fighters," the hey-maybe-you-shouldn't-be-so-controllings and the well-maybe-you-should-start-caring-about-other-people-for-once-in-your-miserable-little-lifes.
Yes, spring is a time for love, which also means that it's a time to get really frustrated at your stupid significant other and their stupid, stupid problems. And then you realize that summer is a time for love, too; specifically, loving someone else. Anyone else. Seriously.
You know you want it - or maybe your beau proposed it first, and you think, hey, that's not a bad idea. But you can't just do these things, you know. Relationships are like Jenga, and the "break" is a like a bulldozer made out of dynamite. So how do you negotiate the summer "break?"
The Honesty Show
If you're going to play the swingin' game, hash it out in plain English first. Is it obvious? I think it's obvious. Do you think it's obvious? Well, when you can't see someone, you don't care about them. It's just human nature. Science has proved it. So, we both go home, and you can't see me, so we both think it's cool to just do whatever, right? Because talking about it would be super awkward.
No, you know what's really awkward? When those photos from that party go up and your friend's friend who you hooked up with is actually the roommate of your significant other's best friend. And suddenly everyone is furious at you, and you're single and bitter, and someone sent that Skywriter all your steamy text messages about enema bags.
Out of sight, out of trouble
On the other hand, once you've decided on the playing field (no mutual friends) and the out-of-bounds lines (all non-saliva fluids are out), you probably shouldn't go blabbing every single crazy hookup to the good friend who you'd eventually like to date again.
Yes, spring is a time for love, which also means that it's a time to get really frustrated at your stupid significant other and their stupid, stupid problems. And then you realize that summer is a time for love, too; specifically, loving someone else. Anyone else. Seriously.
You know you want it - or maybe your beau proposed it first, and you think, hey, that's not a bad idea. But you can't just do these things, you know. Relationships are like Jenga, and the "break" is a like a bulldozer made out of dynamite. So how do you negotiate the summer "break?"
The Honesty Show
If you're going to play the swingin' game, hash it out in plain English first. Is it obvious? I think it's obvious. Do you think it's obvious? Well, when you can't see someone, you don't care about them. It's just human nature. Science has proved it. So, we both go home, and you can't see me, so we both think it's cool to just do whatever, right? Because talking about it would be super awkward.
No, you know what's really awkward? When those photos from that party go up and your friend's friend who you hooked up with is actually the roommate of your significant other's best friend. And suddenly everyone is furious at you, and you're single and bitter, and someone sent that Skywriter all your steamy text messages about enema bags.
Out of sight, out of trouble
On the other hand, once you've decided on the playing field (no mutual friends) and the out-of-bounds lines (all non-saliva fluids are out), you probably shouldn't go blabbing every single crazy hookup to the good friend who you'd eventually like to date again.
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