[SW_PA_Couple]

Having given my observations on hosting house parties at my Swingersboard blog, I hope it will prove worthwhile to elaborate in these open forums on a few points. Also hoping I will gain from other peoples’ experiences. Furthermore, my wife and I have changed our views on some of the wisdom we have dispensed in the past.

- The invitation list We have never considered having an “open house”. We know a couple who host open-house parties in that they put “We are having a party on such-and-such date” in the tag line of their on-line profile. This means that people need, at least, to send an e-mail to them to ask about the street address of the party house. Seems to have worked OK for them. The parties are lively and pretty much free of trouble. But they do have an exceptionally large house. If a lot of unexpected people show, they have the ability to accommodate. Our parties are by invitation and we invite people we already know. These do not necessarily have to be people with whom we have played. We have not so many acquaintances that we have to be concerned about trimming the list to avoid overcrowding. At first, we had our worry that maybe nobody would show and we would be sitting across from each other at a lonely table. This concern was entirely unfounded. Typically, about half to two thirds of the people we invite accept the invitation. We have learned some lessons about making our lists. Single men and single women are among our acquaintances and some of these we can call true friends. But we have lost the attention of some very interesting couples owing to the fact that they are not comfortable being in the intimate company of singles. We trust our single friends to understanding that our house parties are now and will continue to be couples-only events.

- Same room, separate room, private room, group-sex room, exhibitionism and voyeurism Swinging couples have different styles and we try to accommodate. We learned from the set-ups of on-premise clubs. The little innovation of our most recent house party was a room for the couples who like to stay close to their significant others for same-room sex, either the watch-and-be-watched kind or partner exchange. As our master bedroom is sufficiently large, we added a heavy-duty motorized inflatable bed that is the same height as our queen-size. The other two bedrooms also have queen-size beds – close the door if you want privacy. Those new-style battery-operated wax candles are perfect for mood lighting. Every girl looks flattering in this light. The front office and the living room both have convertible sofas. The front room and back-yard patio, newly-enclosed with a six-foot wooden fence, are for people who like to accept critique of their physique and technique (exhibitionists) as well as the those who like to watch.

- Massage table A really great ice breaker; a really worthwhile investment.

- Washrooms Full-size bath towels (we know a person who showers before and after every encounter), small hand trowels, small wash cloths, condoms, Cottonelle flushable wet wipes.

- Food We believe it is the obligation of the host and hostess to provide food. Guests will not have interest in a sit-down dinner. Their minds would only be working on how to make a dessert of the hostess’ décolletage than mashed potatoes and gravy. So we put orders in at the events department of the local supermarket and at Edible Arrangements. We get a little something for everyone; a sandwich ring, potato salad, fresh fruit arrangement (no chocolate), cut-vegetable tray, dessert tray (with chocolate), cheese tray with crackers, peel-and-eat shrimp, dry-roast peanuts, chips and dip, soft drinks, lemonade. The dining room becomes a meeting place countering the tendency for men to congregate in the TV room to discuss trucks or professional sports and the women to congregate in the kitchen (not even dishes to wash as we use paper plates and plastic cups).

What do you guys have to add?

~Michael