How "Conventional" Are You?

I'm just curious.

One of the things that surprised me a bit about the OW/YM forum was how many of the relationships seemed to fit my ideas about a "conventional" relationship. Not that my notions about anything are right, but there seems to be a value for many of the women here on romantic love, traditional marriage, having babies, etc.

Personally, I've never been able to achieve many of those "conventional" ideals, at least on a long-term basis, even when I've wanted to. I think that my OW/YM relationship is an expression on my unconventionality in many areas of life.

While I respect that we are all unique, and no two relationships are the same, I'm a bit curious about you. I don't think this information is particularly significant, but given that it is at least a bit unusual to be involved with a younger man (or to prefer to be), is that an expression of your being unusual in other ways? In other words, on a ten point scale, with 1 being very conventional and 10 being highly unconventional, where do you fall?

I think that part of my motivation in asking is that it's always a bit lonely feeling like such a strange duck.

Quack!

RaMoNa

... it's always a bit lonely feeling like such a strange duck.
I hear you.

I would not mind being different, if some people would not feel personally offended if you dare to be different from the flock. Why not live and let live? :confused:

Why not live and let live? :confused:

That same question has been around longer then me!!!

When will it come true???

I'm "more than a bit unusual." :D

Originally Posted by sheila4pd
Why not live and let live?

That same question has been around longer then me!!!

When will it come true???

When/if we find a way to agree on the extent to which one person's living can be allowed to impinge upon anothers being let to live.

E.g. how far one person's wish for noise can restrain / be restrained by anothers wish for quiet, how far one's wish for fast travel be restrained by anothers concerns re. road safety, one's wish for animals to be protected restrain anothers enthusiasm for hunting them, etc, etc.

:D I'm a total whack job and proud of it , thank you very much :cool:I'm really not interested in what other people see in me, as long as i'm happy and not hurting anyone.:tongue2:

I think that you are finding that a lot of women here are more "conventional" because they found themselves in age gap relationships. Many are average ladies who were not seeking any thrill from a younger lover, but happened to love someone who is younger.

Probably those who actually seek AGRs for the thrill of a younger man would be less conventional types.

On that note, I don't think most people view themselves as "conventional." I think we all kind of see ourselves as different and unique and wouldn't want to be pigeonholed?

Some would argue that the whole love and marriage things these days AREN'T as conventional, what with all of these people shacking up and not having kids, LOL!

Like Wesley, I could choose all of those answers at one time or another! :D

I hear you.

I would not mind being different, if some people would not feel personally offended if you dare to be different from the flock. Why not live and let live? :confused:

I strive to be everything I want to be. In a moral way of coarse. Is my moral compass a lil screwy? Most likely, but God will straighten me out as I go along. :)

I voted that I am adventurous in many areas of my life.

I think I'm actually pretty enigmatic (I was called that once by a boyfriend when I was about 20, and had to look it up:bgrin2:). I don't fit in a box at all.

I'm artistic...I own a dance studio, write, love photography, museums, art, Broadway - people are usually shocked that I'm a registered Republican.:o

I believe in honesty, free enterprise, less government.... I don't believe abortion is a positive solution to unwanted pregnancy, I like my man to open the door for me and all those other "chauvinistic" gestures, I believe in marriage, I have old fashioned ideas on the value of politeness/graciousness/gratitude, I'm frustrated by the dumbing-down of the English language (using texting vernacular in other venues, ending sentences with prepositions, using "your" for "you're" in writing, etc....), I believe children should be kept under control in public places, I write thank you cards with a pen and send them through the regular mail:eek:, I cherish my personal faith and attend church in support of that; I vote conservatively in most elections; I have always had sex with a man only after I've known that I loved him and was in a long term committed relationship with him...

Yet... I hold no judgment for people in alternative lifestyles, I have always had close friends and roomates of every culture/religion/color and have never seen any lines that divided us; my best friend in the world (and many other friends I've loved forever) is gay; I recycle/eat organic/conserve electricity by using alternative energy sources; I am hoping for Universal Health Care in the US-thus I'll probably jump ship and vote democratic in the final election - and embrace many "socialistic" western European structures (higher taxes for universal health care & free higher education, etc.); I've been through a divorce and EMBRACED being a single woman (not needing a man at all) with complete enthusiasm; when in a committed relationship, I am quite sexually adventurous;), I am now in an age gap marriage with a 22 year age gap.

While the first paragraph seems to label me as a conservative conventionalist, the second paragraph shows components in my life and beliefs that seem to point at a different assessment.

My point is that many of us are a mixture of personality styles and belief systems. I think that to be in an age gap relationship, you have to be more open minded than most in many ways...and absolutely adventurous/unconventional.:yes:

My husband would have gone for the last one to describe me, I would have said that I'm totally normal... :p

I voted the last one though ;)

My friends tell me I'm eccentric. I think that's a good thing.....:confused:

i think we are all unique in our own ways. i think in alot of arenas i feel still a bit "unconventional" because i am in a same sex AGR, which isnt something you see a TON of. however, what i do think we all have in common are dreams and hopes. i think we all grow up with some fantasy of finding our person, and sharing whatever is important to us, whether that be interests, travel, children, etc. so i think sometimes, and ill speak for myself, when our life looks a little less "conventional" it is a nice surprise when you remember all your dreams and wishes are right there waiting and can actualy happen given our unconventional relationships, age difference, blending of children from previous relationships, sexuality ;), etc.

That was a nice post, Super.

I'm not sure if I'm conventional or not conventional. We live together, but we aren't married. He's 14 years younger than I am, but that works for us. We do seem to have conventional roles in the family pretty much. He isn't much older than my oldest child (like 5 years) so that's kind of unconventional. Hmmmmm....

Ive always been called different, odd, weird, goofy, kooky all in a good way though LOL> :p

But I honestly see myself as conventional. So I voted myself as interesting but conventional and if Im a bit looney on top of it thats ok, I MAKE IT WORK dang it. lol

Hey, man...we're ALL weirdos. I mean, really, the more you get to know someone, how normal are they REALLY?

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/347/individualitygp1.jpg