Happy blogoversary

OK...it's been a bit over a year, but we missed the year mark, so be it.

It struck me earlier that it had been about a year since we started this little blog, and took a moment to look back at when we really did start...and doing a bit of rereading of our posts...what a year it's been.

This was my second Pesach since admitting this discovery to myself, and starting to admit it to others...again, all that talk of bondage at the seder made me smile internally a few times. And this time around, I took the opportunity to come out as kinky to 2 of my close friends. They both took it so nonchanantly...so in stride. It made me thankful to have wonderful friends. And helped me to feel a little bit more, well, normal.

So much else has happened in my own life in the past year. I started writing more, my grandfather died, LOST ended, I started a new job after a long time being severely underemployed, I moved, I had a few non-starter BDSM relationships, 1 really bad one, 1 potentially great one that we both realized wasn't able to be that which we had dreamed it could be (that kind of broke my heart--the fact it wasn't to be, not him--he was wonderful and still is. It was the right thing to end where we were...and I'm thankful every day for his ongoing friendship), a bit of fun play here and there, and a good dose of potential that's only just beginning. I tried things that I never imagined I'd dare try, and even enjoyed some of them. And I keep my eye out for more exploration in that realm...and in life.

May this be a year of new experiences, new lessons, new ideas for us all.

I'm babbling, I realize. But I want to get back to what a year this has been. And how we started around Pesach last year (I do believe it was during Pesach that Spritually Playful learned about my proclivities, Rabbi Submissive knowing for longer. She was the first person I told of my exploration, as she was the one who helped me take the first steps), and how so much of this is about freedom. We named this blog for a reason...and it is through our recognition that returning to bondage, by choice, gives us so much of the freedom we all seek.

As we enter this Shabbat of Pesach, I hope that we all find the peace--the shleimut--that comes from acceptance of who we are. Of what we are becoming in the constant process of life.

And that we all find others who help us to complete that journey.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!!

A Tale of 2 Cities

With CCAR convention in NOLA & the RA in Vegas, this week's theme is "Your rabbi is having more fun than you are."

Not quite fair to say that this tweet went viral, but within a really small segment of the Jewish world (even smaller segment of the world at large), this statement was shared by and amused more than a few people. And, it's true. Last week, The Rabbinical Assembly and Central Conference of American Rabbis each met in Las Vegas and New Orleans, respectively. Yes, the Conservative and Reform rabbis each had their annual conventions in the 2 US cities perhaps most known for debauchery.

Of course, there is more to a conference than the city where it was held. I was at one of them, and can attest to that. I've read reports from the other and it sounds like the 2 conventions were similar. Both movements discussed the goings on in Israel and the Middle East at large, considered technology and how it fits in to what we do, pondered how to move beyond what it is we do in order to reach those that we don't and began to envision the future of our movements. We learned, we prayed, we networked, we shared. We inspired and were inspired by our fellow colleagues. We socialized with old friends and found new connections. Our conventions are about all of these things and this was true once again, in both cases.

But I think there is something to be said...to be thought about...regarding the location of both conventions this year. Yes, there were the jokes. And yes, there were many comments about what we weren't doing (perhaps the rabbis doth protest too much?). I have to wonder about how honest those comments were. To what extent did we partake in that which the city we were visiting had to offer?

I admit here that I went to a strip club with a few colleagues. It was fun and instructive on a number of levels. But I also share that we looked both ways before we exited; and were very careful about who knew our whereabouts. I have to wonder how many others did the same....or went down their own paths of exploration. Both groups being in cities where anonymity is part of what happens naturally...where it's so easy to hide....here there are so many venues for behavior that might be perceived as "not what we do" (even if some of us know it's exactly what we love to do). There must have been more that went on...or at least temptation. I highly doubt that the 3 people I went to the strip club with were the only other colleagues that partook in all the city had to offer.

I have to believe that at my convention and at the other that the 4 of us were not the only ones that did something outside the perceived boundaries of what we are "supposed to" do. I know there are others who are kinky...who think outside the box about matters of sexuality. How many were aware enough of their needs to partake? How many felt the freedom to explore, even if just a little.

In some ways, those of us who are still in the closet, but have begun to peek out, owe both groups of conference planners a load of thanks. For giving us the opportunity to convene with like minded colleagues who allow us to explore--to put us in locales where such exploration is bound to happen. Perhaps that's not what the planners had considered as goals...but I think it's a good thing. It's all part of finding the right balance between all the aspects of our lives.

I, for one, am thankful that I had the chance to explore this locale...this aspect of my self...with colleagues that I know I'm lucky to have.