I was chatting with a colleague yesterday, who is off to the US with work in a few weeks. She was telling me about how her husband had remarked that he thought it was odd that she had to make an appointment with the beautician for a pedicure and waxing before she went. She told me she thought he was implying that she did not make such an effort normally. Upon which I retorted that maybe he thought she was visiting some kind of fancy man out there.
I can see where she is coming from. Going somewhere away from the norm does make you want to make an effort. For some reason, every time I go on my quarterly trips to Dubai, I feel the bizarre urge to use stick-on fingernails, despite the fact that I would never dream of wearing them "in real life". Read into that what you will.
Of course, part of it is the fact that it is nice to make a bit more of an extra effort when you go somewhere different. What if is was something more though? What if I was using work trips to have a "bit on the side"?
(Before I go any further, I feel the need to add some kind of disclaimer at this point. I am NOT having an affair, and I have NO desire ever to do so. After all, there's making an effort and then there's making an effort, IYKWIM. Besides, the subject of infidelity brings up ghosts of boyfriend past, so I have experienced the hurt and pain it can cause first-hand. I have, however, been propositioned in the past - a good few years ago now.)
I understand why some people do it - the thrill of a new partner, that feeling of being desired anew, the illicit rendezvous, the furtiveness of it. It must be extremely exciting - especially if your home life is not far from thrilling.
However, I can't the only one that wonders how people get away with it longer term? In some ways it would be incredibly easy - especially if you did travel a lot. You meet someone through work, or on a social network... Would your partner ever find out? I for one am pretty useless at keeping secrets, and I am sure any guilt would be written all over my face. To be honest, I don't think I could cope with the stress of it all.
So - no thanks. I don't think I'm the girl for you.
