Sound like a masturbatory fantasy? Well, wet dreams like this one are a reality for millions of average Americans. The inside term for these carnal goingson is the "Lifestyle". Swinging has been growing, quietly but steadily, for over three decades. In the new century, it's finally become a major social movement. In the seventies, the sexual atmosphere was defined by clubs like New York's infamous Plato's Retreat.

Since, in 1986, a combination of legal pressure and fear of Aids closed the place down, it would be easy to assume that the subculture had vanished as well. According to a spokesperson for Lifestyle, Ltd, a Californian swing organization, membership in swing clubs and the number of clubs, have been increasing at a constant rate over the last 30 years.

"The idea that you should marry one person and never, ever have sex with anyone else for the rest of your life is considered a perversion in many parts of the world," says Lifestyles, Ltd. Director of media relations, Dr. Steve Mason.

"I heard one comic say he's never going to get married again. He's just going to find some lady he doesn't like, and buy her a house." Mason has been swinging since 1969.
Our lawyer took us to Trapeze the first time," Karla, the busty blonde, told us. "Did we swing with him that first night? Absolutely not! Actually having sex with other people…that did not happen for a long time. It was a year before I really got into that." Karla and Claudio did what many of the couples in the scene do: they were turned on by watching other have sex, even came to love, having sex while others watched them, but they didn't get physically involved with anyone else for quite a while. Their behavior points to a major misconception about swinging- that it's all just one big orgy, or that at the very least, swingers always switch partners. In fact, swingers have many different levels of interest and commitment. Sex clubs always stress that everyone must stay in their own confort zone and commit at their own pace. And the key phrase, heard over and over, is "No means No.'

Another myth about the Lifestyle is that swingers tend to be middle aged or older. In fact, as club membership rises, the average age is falling. The average of swingers today is late- 20s to early- 30s. Experts reason that in today's younger generation, both men and women are less uptight and more sexually adventurous. Swinging attracts people of all races, roughly in proportion to the general population. But swingers do tend to be better educated and more affluent than average, so the scene is predominately white and middle to upper class.
Many swingers say they first got interested by checking out swing club websites. "There's no doubt about it," says Alan Mostow, co owner of Trapeze. "Nothing else has affected the Lifestyle more than the internet. Now you can sit in your home, go online, and be in contact with other swingers in chat rooms instantly. You get to meet them, communicate with them online, see pictures of them, all in one night.

The funny thing about swinging is that it's often the man who suggests it, but it's the woman who gets the most out of it. "Males who don't want to cheat, and who feel their wves should be treated as equal, suggest trying the Lifestyle," says Dr. Mason. Once they try it, women tend to find the Lifestyle more satisfying than their men. Swing clubs are female oriented. They're set up with rules strict enough to make a woman feel secure, yet relaxed enough to feel, act and dress very sexy without being seen as a slut. Basically, women are valued more highly in sex clubs than men. Many clubs have some "single men allowed" nights, but solo men are only allowed in at a premium price. Meanwhile, single women are welcome any night of the week, and always at a lower price than couples or single men.

A None of what we've said is meant to imply that all is sweetness and light in the Lifestyle. Jealousy does rear it's ugly head in swing clubs from time to time. One busy evening in Trapeze, a cute blond, perched on her man's knee, our friend Paul's arm, then kissed him on the cheek-and grabbed his cock through his pants. Her guy simply smiled and sucked his beer, with a dazed look that indicated it was far from his first of the night.
A few minutes later, Paul told us, "I guess you saw me kind of politely turn that girl down before? She and that guy are married and they're notorious around here. She'll be getting it on with a couple and freak out and literally pull a woman's hair to drag her off her husband's cock. And he's been known to take a swing at a guy's head with a beer bottle. They're both bad drunks and their marriage is breaking up and very definitely should not be swinging to try and save it."
That's excellent advise on what swinging won't do for a relationship. But for those who take it slow, who use swinging as a spice to enhance their erotic enjoyment, the Lifestyle can be extremely satisfying.

To find out more about Trapeze, phone 954-730-8121