bolete, I have used out of date condoms all my life. I have only bought 4 packs in 24 years. I bought 2 packs of 12 (optimistic youth) when my W came off the pill in 1980 and they lasted me until my second child was born in 1988. The doctor gave W a handful after the birth and they lasted until 1996 when I bought my third pack at Heathrow airport on the way to a "romantic" holiday in Jamaica (I only got to use 1 on that holiday and that was after a battle). They lasted for the many years of my "long dark night" when children were everything and hubby was nothing. I bought 18 about three years ago when I thought I was back in with a chance and have about 8 left I think. I have a V booked for July so I will not be buying any more! Vive la renaisance! SD - not used to visiting the Chemist.
Well, I just went through a rather embarassing but enlightening process of finding out about condoms. You can learn a lot by phoning the informed people at Condomania (http://www.condomania.com/) - I talked to them and two other stores, and learned a lot:
1. Most of the gimmicks are gimmicks.
2. When it comes to condoms, size really does matter. For me, the standard condoms you buy in the store are hard to put on, tend to rip, and are rather numbing - when wearing a condom, I tended to get strong erections that lasted a long time but have a hard time progressing to orgasm. The condom was just way too small! I bought a few different sizes and figured out the right size - it should not fall off, if you move the condom it should be tight enough that your skin moves with it and the condom does not slip.
3. There are just a few brands that seem to be the big favorites.
At any rate, the better condom stores really do seem to know some things and can tell you on the phone, and I was able to learn a little, hang up when I was blushing too hard, and call back later when I was ready.
Well, she's been talking to her therapist about finding a sex therapist, and thinks it may soon become time to start looking. She emphasizes that starting to talk to a therapist does not mean having sex, but it's a good sign.
During the cold war, the Russians shipped a crate of condoms to the U.S. They were 3" wide and 12" long and marked "Medium". The U.S. responded by shipping a crate to Russia - they were 8" wide and 27" long, and marked "Small"....
My joke was always to ask if you knew what the model number was. I would get this questioning look from my friends, and would say that it was printed at the opening, after it was unrolled all the way (the suggestion being that they were too "short" to have ever had to unroll one that far.)
My wife has been very, very attentive lately, though still staying well away from sex. She's been cooking great meals every day, being careful to make contact in the mornings, and sitting close to me on the couch when we watch a movie - yesterday she lay down against me for most of an entire movie.
OK, I'd like sex, but it sure is nice when it feels like we're close to each other and caring for each other and we just happen to have this one problem that we really need to work on. It's so easy for that problem to spread into everything else...
