[jjtrindc]

We totally agree. When we first started, we went to an "off-premise" club just to get a feel for the vibe. We were soooo nervous that first time. The hosts did a great job of introducing us around and we got talking to people and found out that everyone was really nice. We kept in contact with a few of those couples for a bit just to chat online about their experiences and ask questions, etc. We aren't great "minglers" so its hard for us to meet couples at clubs so we turned to the online route. That has its own challenges as it really is a one-on-one scenario. My wife likened it to dating in high school a bit. I think that's a pretty good analogy. We took it slow and tried to chat as much online through email and IM to make sure we were meeting couples who were a good fit. Ultimately, you do have to drop your guard and be yourself...but when you get to that level of comfort with another couple its awesome. We were out of the lifestyle for a bit due to jobs, kids, etc, and now that we are back meeting people the same anxieties are there - but so is the excitement of meeting new people. I think being somewhat cautious is a good thing...but don't let that get in the way of letting your hair down and being who you are.