Better to date or marry a swimmer or not?

Meeting my partner was the best thing I could have ever done. And we met at a swim meet. Minutes before our teams were racing in a relay. (His won.) This brings up another point, though, does the competition in the pool ever affect your relationship? It seems like it would, maybe even more so if we're talking about a same sex partner.

The problem is about every thread ends up being hijacked to some degree by this silliness. I personally don't feel I have to weed through dozens of pointless non swimming related posts on serious threads to get to the meat of the swimming matter. This is why I suggested you use an alternative social networking site, populate it with your swimming friends, and do that stuff there. A little bit is ok, the amount these days is cumbersome to get through. I think it's safe to say that I've read all your posts in the few months. I have yet to hear you comment more than maybe a couple times on stroke technique, swiming theories, your own training, engine/vessel buiding, endurance training, muscular endurance, the desirability or benefits of kicking, etc. In fact, you've been a bit silent since the "Freestyle Stroke Question" thread on any matter of real substance with the exception of the NSR "Big Loser" thread. All of these threads (and many others) have contained many serious discussions. I have read, however, dozens of your NSR posts about waivers, drunk driving, TFs, noodlers, etc. My point is that your brand of "silliness" is just as irrelevant to "the meat of the swimming matter" as is any alleged social comments or attaboys or just plain and honorable human empathy. Frankly, I think I've asked a lot more pertinent swimming questions and doled out what technical or training or shoulder advice I could a whole lot more than you. So have many other of the joksters or occasional humorists you target. I hardly know any posters besides maybe Kaizen that don't joke a bit. Even Lindsay gives a wink now and again or makes a funny comment that makes me smile. Now, if you'd like to play catch up on substantive swimming issues, maybe I'd take your comments on this thread more seriously. I don't mind your NSR topics. In fact, I enjoy them, as I've stated, but they are NSR. I love your well-timed zings and acerbic humor. But why is your NSR better than anyone else's NSR? Seems very un-Democratic of you ... Kind of a "Kiss my Grits" situation here, in keeping with my empathy for my Southern "twin" Beth. I find it's quite nice to have forum friends, BTW. I'm sorry for you if you don't have more (although I know you have some too). I'm looking forward to meeting folks at Nationals or Zones or anywhere. I think it would be nice to toast Kyra on her birthday. I wish you'd post more on swimming. I've read many of your old threads. And I'd like to hear your views. You obviously love swiming and train hard. Kirk: If we're going to do subfora, let's definitely put butterfrog and elementary backstroke in their own little category of "archaic/ugly strokes." As to married swimmers, I heard a lot of :argue: tonight on that topic. However, the fact that Aquafeisty married her coach is pretty cool.

And that frosts me to no end. That's because we're powerful women and superhero men and we don't need no stinkin' push up bras. :thhbbb: Good for you, Barb. Post whenever you want to and keep us updated on your progress. Most people here love to help newbies. I'm pretty newbie myself. Frankly, I like knowing you're here. Especially since you're such a liberal arts brainiac. No apologies for not being related to "the meat of swimming." Just wishing a fellow swimmer and cool woman well.

There are certain topics for all of us that we don't want to read or post on. Such as dating, for instance. This is a swimming forum, which is why I'm reading the forum. It would be much easier to dispose of the silliness that permeates every thread than try to avoid reading what appear to be serious swimming threads that get hijacked by the cutesy bologna. For instance, the premise of this thread is interesting and many of the responses are germane to the topic. The who dates who, who has a crush on who, etc, takes away from a good topic.

We set up a NSR board the last time this issue arouse. It boomed for awhile, but has since died. People always came back here because there is more people, and it's one less site to add to your list of things to check and keep up on. I agree that we should have a sub-forum for off topic things. It's just more convient and then everybody can post without having to leave the Master's site. Anyways, here's the link: sports.groups.yahoo.com/.../ A few of us from here "moderate" it, so if you want just apply and we'll gladly let you in.

But competition in the pool could affect any relationship, including friendships. Is it amplified when you're sleeping (or want to sleep) with the other person? That's not rhetorical - I am genuinely asking. I don't know either. That's why I asked the question! :) I would think it could. No one wants to feel inferior all the time. Same kind of thing as if one partner is making a lot more money than the other.

I was looking around at the posts as of late....and in great risk of looking like a heartless b*tch, though please PLEASE let me assure that is not my intention in any way shape or form....it seems like the complaint about non-swimming related threads is biased. People have posted about family medical issues or personal tradegies (which are horrible to have to go through and it's incredible the support that is given), but when these are posted no one makes a fuss about them not being swimming related. However, when a few people want to try and have a little fun and lighten things up a bit, they are labeled as hi-jackers and ruining the content of the forum. If non-swimming related things are to not be tolerated, it should be for everything rather than a double standard. Again, I'm not attacking the people who have posted such things, they are terrible tradgies and incredible experiences and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.

and for good measure ... :dedhorse: :banana: You're even dancing on my grave...wow....:shakeshead: :eek:;)

My wife was a high school swimmer but we didn't meet through swimming. We're also musicians and we met when the choir I sang with and the orchestra she played in performed together. Swimming is something I took up just after my children joined the local team. My wife now coaches this team but does not coach me. We tried that and ended up arguing constantly. Having common activities or hobbies is as important as is having separate ones.

The money thing is interesting. My grandparents told me one thing when I got married. "There's no mine and yours...just ours....otherwise it won't work." My wife and I have taken the exact opposite tack: we keep our money separate. Yeah, we both contribute to the common household expenses, but then we can spend or save our discretionary income however we see fit without the other person questioning it (much, anyway :)). I'm not going to say it's perfect, but it works pretty well.