How Do I Love Thee, Erin? Let Me Count the Ways...

This past week, Erin posed these questions:

1) Are we really supposed to be with just one person for the rest of our lives? With all the people in the world, can we actually settle on just one?

2) Even if we do fall in love and find a life partner, is it really in our human nature to be completely faithful to him or her? Especially with regards to men, can they honestly be expected to maintain complete fidelity?

3) The timeless question - can men and women ever truly be "friends"? Isn't at least one of the people always attracted to the other, and secretly lusting for him or her?

And here's what I have to say:

1) I think YES. Some people hit it right on the first time around, and others spend a lot more time shopping around, but I think that it is SO POSSIBLE. I think the problem comes in with question no. 2, in which I think fidelity entirely rests on the couple's motivation toward the relationship. When things aren't going well, I think it is easy to fall into the arms of someone else who appears to be more caring, more giving, more whatever of what you need at the moment. What I think most people will find is that the infidelity is never worth it, it is never as fulfilling as maintaining a strong, monogamous relationship (although I could be wrong here).

2) I don't think that men are any less able to maintain fidelity than women - I think women are just a lot less likely to admit it (for a variety of reasons - social pressures being one). I have definitely been with other men while dating someone else exclusively, and I like to think of it as an entirely experimental time in my dating life. What I learned was that I really don't like that kind of relationship, that kind of "excitement." I much prefer the one-on-one I currently enjoy with my Anthony.

And to weigh in on the side of men, I think I can honestly say that I know several guys who have NEVER and will (probably) never cheat on their girlfriends. Somehow the guys I tend to be friends with are the kind of guys who aren't capable of that kind of behind-your-backedness (don't you just love made-up words?). Having worked in law enforcement, I definitely know too many dirty secrets and am not entirely naive in thinking that men are angels, but I know plenty of women who can't walk the straight and narrow either.

3) Ahhh, When Harry Met Sally...can men and women ever truly be friends? I think the answer is defintely YES. The reason I say this is because sometimes two friends can actually have no physical desire for each other - it's a chemical-biology type of thing. For instance, if my friends are actually reading this - Nischay/Eric/Ben/Jeff/Andrew: did you ever think about sleeping with me? I honestly don't mind if you have, but I can't imagine that the thought has crossed all of your minds (or any, for that matter). Not to be rude, but I really don't think of you guys like that.

Alright, my work here is done.