What a fantastic opportunity for you two! People talk all the time about communication, but as you said in one of your other post, most people are in their 30's, 40's, and 50's - some having spent years (or 2-3 marriages) learning how to communicate openly and honestly and now, here you are at an early age and early in your marriage with this golden opportunity presented to you. The opportunity to strengthen already strong bonds.
Personally, I would drop the idea of actually swinging for the time being and focus on the doors of communication that have been opened. After all, ya'll have been together several years and this is the first time he's mentioned something that obviously had a rather profound effect on him. Sounds to me like there is a lot of trust there.
Sure...read the board together, post together, fantasize together...but there's no need to be in any hurry to start swinging. Give him the space and the confidence to know you are there with him all the way (not that I think he doubts that) and I suspect the two of you will end up way ahead of the game. Someone else mentioned what a great time can be had from just the discussion based on his initial reactions. That alone is a good start.
Yeah...childhood traumas are the pits, but unfortunately, most of us have them in some form or fashion and it's just unfortunate that swinging was introduced to him in such a negative way. But with you at his side...I suspect all things are possible. - EBF
