Background info on me: 36 yo, 15 months into my MAP. Currently at Dread level 7/8. I have two young kids and by a choice I made before unplugging, my wife isn’t employed. My financial and domestic situation doesn’t make it prudent to hit levels 9 and 10 for another year, maybe two but I’m about to dabble in level 11.
The situation: I picked up a woman on my last venture out then met her again a couple days later. So far just some topless making out; I ran out of time to deal with LMR in our last session but sex is imminent. She’s no special snowflake, but she’s high on the quality spectrum and she has her shit together in life. She’s 35, professionally successful, in fantastic physical shape, no kids. Facebook stalking shows no recent men in her life but lots of interesting activities. Typing that out, it seems like she’s a prime candidate for baby-rabies and if her goal is to lock me down and she doesn’t succeed, she might be a moderate risk for wrecking my life. Despite that risk, it is my intention to plate her because (my hamster says) her place is logistically convenient and we have some mutual interests (live music, dancing, fitness, and of course passionate sex).
One of the main lessons from “Models” is to polarize yourself early and often. In our next interaction, I’m going to lay out my expectations for the relationship (partner-in-crime for fun, adventure, and mutual entertainment only. When one of us gets bored / tired of it, we walk away. I won’t be exclusive and it’s her choice if she wants to impose that on herself.) If she’s not OK with that, we’ll walk away and I won’t have any hard feelings.
Here’s the thing: She’s not stupid and will eventually figure out that I’m married. Why don’t you answer text in the evening (engaged with family)? Why don’t we ever drive in your car (kid carseats)? Why don’t we ever go to your place (duh)? Why don’t I ever meet your friends outside this bar?
In our expectation talk, besides what I mentioned above, I’m going to shoot straight and tell this potential plate:
- I’m currently married. It may or may not work out. That’s not your concern.
- I have kids. You’ll probably never meet them.
- This is the only time we’ll talk about it. Any baggage from my situation at home stays at home.
I can only see this polarization as beneficial. Either she’s cool with it, or she’s not and I’ll find someone else who is.
Here are my questions: Have any of you dudes with plates had this talk? How did it go? In my head, this is all very overt; are there better (covert) ways of conveying the same information? In your opinion, is it my beta conditioning that compels me toward full disclosure? Is this info better left for her to discover on her own?
EDIT 1 Thanks for all the opinions of whether or not I'm "ready" to do this. I appreciate the perspective, but frankly it's for me to decide if I'm ready or not. I could have highlighted it better, but my main goal for the post was to get some ideas for a way to convey my intentions other than full-on overt communication. I fucked up by not wearing my ring from the start and owning it.
I realize that I won't win the internet by convincing everyone that my choice is right, but since there's some discussion in the comments about preparedness, I want to clarify something I said: "I'm not financially or logistically prepared to walk out of my marriage."
I have:
- Control of the finances for my family and everything is in order. I make plenty of money, budget, invest, and save it well.
- Researched typical alimony and child support payments in my state if I were to divorce in my current situation (SAHM with kids which would need daytime care), the situation once the kids are in school but wife not yet back to work, and the situation with kids in public school and wife working.
- Practiced keeping my personal spending (excluding rent) under the budget I'd have in the worst of those cases (about 1/3 of my current income) for a couple months earlier this year. It's possible but not comfortable.
- A "bug out" fund containing enough money to live for two months, secure an apartment I can afford on my worst-case budget, and retain a lawyer.
- A "bug out" kit containing copies of important documents.
- Been systematically liquidating accumulated possessions over the last year.
- Discussed a plan and timeline for my wife to return to work.
I have NOT:
- Actually contacted a lawyer
- Actually lined up a crash pad
- Documented my parenting contributions sufficient to secure 50% custody of kids.
So when I say "I'm not financially prepared", I mean that I can afford to get divorced but I'd rather reduce the discomfort by waiting. When I say I'm not "logistically prepared" I mean I can't literally walk out the door today, but I might be able to tomorrow.
EDIT 2 After she sent a couple flirty texts today but no other contact from me, she started trying to set up a time to come to my place. I called her and I told her the situation, and as expected, she's not down for messing around with a married man. Back to work...
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