I'll admit to being the original "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?" girl, but I don't think that necessarily makes me a sex addict. I don't think there's a simple dichotomy between either "using" your partner or "sharing joy" either.

Let's say it's a boring, dreary Sunday afternoon in March in Michigan. I turn to my spouse and suggest

a) that we bake some chocolate chip cookies.
b) that we go take a hike.
c) that we go see a movie.
d) that we have some sex.
e) that we go get some beers and watch sports.
f) that we go downtown and score some crack.

Let's say my spouse isn't all that interested in my suggestion to go to the theatre but I try to talk him into it. Would I be using him to further the interests of my "cinema-addiction" if I managed to get him to agree to go to a movie?

Would I be any less of a crack-addict if my partner was as eager as me to indulge in that activity?

I kind of believe everybody has their own personal set of preferred vices or ways to deal with feelings of boredom/neediness etc.. My unique leisure/vice-phenotype would cause me to usually pick Activity D but frequently Activities A,B and C, rarely be in the mood for D and never in the mood for E.


"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver