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Mr. FL, Pfizer x 2. Minimal arm soreness on both injections, a day of fatigue and feeling crummy after the second. Mrs. FL Moderna x 2. Minimal arm soreness after first injection. Soreness, headache, moderate fatigue for about 24 hours beginning the day after the second injection. All resolved around 60 hours after the second injection. We would both do it again in a heartbeat.

Greetings. We write to offer a bit of perspective. The disclaimer is that our crystal ball is no clearer than anyone else's. When this topic comes up in our vanilla lives--it does frequently--we divide our response into three buckets: what is known, what is thought, and what is hoped. What is known Viruses constantly try to jump from one species to another. The pandemic is the result of a very rare successful jump from a bat to a human. Successful jumps are very rare, but when they are successful, and if the infected person comes into contact with another susceptible person, outbreaks begin. If the early outbreak is not contained, a pandemic occurs. Pandemics are fairly frequent and they have begun all over the world. (Last decade's swine flu began in the USA.) Frequently outbreaks are contained because the virus kills too quickly. This has been the case with two other coronavirus outbreaks in recent memory, SARS at the beginning of the century, and MERS about 10 years ago. Those viruses cause sudden and severe symptoms, and provided that the infected can be quarantined as soon as symptoms appear or exposures are known, those outbreaks are readily stopped with a few hundred deaths. On the other side of the problem is seasonal influenza. Symptoms appear somewhat late in infection and the death rate is comparatively much lower, so that while flu has been common during the winter respiratory season, with bad years here and there, it typically does NOT require hospitalization and typically does not leave those infected with long term health problems. The current virus, SARS-CoV-2, has been successful because it occupies a "sweet spot" between transmissibility, the appearance of symptoms, and mortality. It is highly transmissible, symptoms take around a week to appear (and the virus is transmissible for several days before symptoms appear), and has a case fatality rate about ten times higher than bad influenza. There are three additional facts that matter here. 1. Humans have never before successfully developed a vaccine against coronaviruses. Part of that relates to the immunology of coronaviruses. Different from the immunology related to measles or mumps, the immune response to coronaviruses fades quickly. There are several coronaviruses that are responsible for about 40% of what we think of as "the common cold", and we can "catch" the same virus every few years. They are mostly childhood nuisances. As such there has never been an economic incentive to try and make a vaccine. 2. All viruses, and especially all RNA viruses (coronaviruses are RNA viruses) undergo mutations at a fairly rapid rate: their replication is intentionally sloppy. This is precisely what Darwin called "random mutation". The genetic code undergoes frequent misprints. There is a recent case report of a patient with a defective immune system who had 145 days of more or less continuous infection (not recurrence, continuing infection) before death. His viruses were sampled and sequenced regularly and literally dozens and dozens of mutations were detected. None of them became dominant in the patient, but.... 3. ...all mutants have a different fitness level. Some are more transmissible, some have a longer period in which to spread before symptoms appear, some reproduce (replicate) more efficiently in the host human. They will undergo the other half of Darwin's insight, namely "natural selection". This is what is being seeing worldwide right now. The mutations have occurred, and more "fit" variants are spreading through the human population. This should surprise no one--influenza does this every year, which is why new "shots" are needed every year--scientists try to forecast which species are becoming more fit, prepare vaccines against those emerging strains, and that is why you go for the annual flu jab. One more thing. If infected, it's now clear that there is small but meaningful risk of long-term organ damage and disability. No one knows how long, but "surviving the acute infection" is not the same as "clean bill of health". What is thought Combatting the virus depends on reducing the so-called R value below 1. If an infected human transmits the virus, on average, to less than one other infected human (that is, if ten infected humans only transmit to 8 more, R=8/10=0.8) then the outbreak/pandemic ends. The idea is to supplement the physical barriers to transmission--travel restrictions, distancing, mask wearing, hand hygeine etc--with raising the level of population immunity with vaccines. There is evidence that masking is effective, and early evidence that double masking may be more effective--a cloth mask over a tight fitting paper mask or respirator. All of the calculations about controlling the virus have to figure in the degree to which physical transmission is reduced by such measures. Masks likely protect the wearer and also those around the wearer provided the wearing is well fit. Masks are known to protect wearers from tuberculosis for example (yes, it's a much larger particle, but the problem with masks is not the filtration as much as it is the fit). Masks certainly reduce droplet transmission. No mask ever works if improperly worn. There is evidence that the mRNA vaccines are ~95% effective in the population that was willing to participate in the clinical trials. That is *not* the same as the general population, because different types of people volunteer for clinical trials. All that is *known* is that the relative risk o getting covid when the *trial participants* were sent back into the general population was that their attack rate was about 5% of those who received the placebo. They were still advised to wear masks, practice social distancing and so on. Of note, they were *not* told it was okay to go to bars and throw away their masks. This is important because while the vaccine may have prevented clinical illness, we have *no idea* whether it prevents transmission as a result of asymptomatic infection. Just because you do not have symptoms (clinical illness) does not mean that cannot transmit the virus. Indeed, most infections are indeed asymptomatic. Unfortunately, there is such a large infected population that there is a large population of sick people, including those on life support. Masks indeed protect you and also those around you, Physical distancing protects you and those around you. We *think* vaccines protect you (from clinical illness)--but that depends on the extent to which you match those who were willing to volunteer for trials. We *think* vaccines protect others, because we *think* you are less likely to have a transmissible asymptomatic infection. We *think* that the different vaccines will work reasonably well--you are hearing of other vaccines producing 75-90% reductions in attack rates. Not perfect, but much better than flu, where we are lucky to see 50%. The problem arises: the vaccines were made to combat the original strain of the virus, and not the emerging mutants. There is evidence that the vaccines remain partially effective against the emerging mutant strains, but most studies so far say that the vaccines are not as effective against the mutant strains as against the parent strain. What is hoped The hope is that widespread vaccination --along with continued physical measures to prevent transmission--will be sufficient to reduce R below 1 for all strains. The benefit of vaccination is to reduce the spread in the population. If it happens to prevent an individual from getting sick, wonderful. If it happens to prevent an individual from dying, even better. But the idea behind vaccination is really to protect the health of a population by making it difficult and eventually impossible for viruses to spread to more than an average of one person per infected person. Kids seem to do better with the virus, and the hope is to keep the reservoir of infected persons generally kids, most---but not all!!!--experience the infection as a bad cold. No one we know of believes that the virus will disappear from the face of the earth. That's not how the process works. Even with massive global vaccination, this type of respiratory virus fades into the background (becomes endemic) and does not disappear. What this might mean for you Small groups of people with immunity--natural or from immunization--are going to become relatively safer to interact with. Large groups, not so much owing to the natural ineffectiveness of the vaccines. Get enough people with no immunity to unmask and be in close quarters, and there *will* be an outbreak if just one person is infected. Laws of large numbers and so on. There is an obvious and palpable tension between trying to stay safe and connecting with other human beings. There are no guarantees at this point. Official advice from the CDC etc is going to more reliable than "research on the internet" where all voices can appear equal and invite choosing something that reinforces what you want to believe.

No one knows, but we would certainly choose acetaminophen (Tylenol TM) over ibuprofen or naproxen (Advil TM or Aleve TM) . The latter are specifically antiinflamatory. The former is more of an antipyretic and strikes us as less likely to interfere with the immune response you are trying to generate in the first place.

Bareback is better and we do that with each other. For others, it is 100% condom. Our friends are not in a closed group. The condoms are actually good at slowing me down, so I don’t pop in three seconds. I use Trojan Double Ecstacy condoms. They are lubed inside and out for that quasi-vag feel.

In our closed group of married couples, the wives are all on birth control and we don't play outside the group, so blast away is our attitude. We all like it better bareback.

PS. We listen to Dr. Fauci. Under the prior administration, he was not allowed to tell what he knew or thought. He is now free to do so. He is a very smart and very honest man. He embraces the idea that science is self-correcting as new findings and data emerge. Whether you like him or believe him is less important than how you weigh his insights. He has been right far more often than he has been wrong about the pandemic. No one can be told what to believe. That said, we think Dr. Fauci's insights are especially important.

The CDC knows more than the people on here. Science evolves and is not static unlike the minds of some people. Better medications, my mom said it was only penicillin when she was young, then antibiotics and even antibiotics change. Polio vaccine, first Salk then Sabin. This virus keeps changing and science has only a very brief history to work with. You want to play scientist, go ahead, I’ll listen to the best minds our country has even if their direction changes.

We both are healthcare providers and have had both rounds of Pfizer and generally no issues. At our healthcare facility we have vaccinated about 2/3-3/4 of all staff I believe (only those declining haven't received it) and either Pfizer or Moderna have for the most part no major issues but there is a split in immune response. Some folks get what we got: sore arm (like dead arm), general malaise and that's it. Others get a very strong response: high temps, chills, n/v/d, just strong flu like symptoms for a few days. We have NO idea what predicts the variability. But generally both have favorable profiles in terms of immunity. We have seen facility wide employee infection rates drop dramatically since about 2 weeks after round 1 and continued after round 2 - and I should add we are in two separate healthcare facilities (we're in the Triangle of NC, so there is Durham VA, Duke, UNC, Wake, etc.; so wifey and I work at 2 of these 4 and both have seen significant reduction in employee infection rates, so that's a very good sign. I have not seen any posted data at our facility as to how many had mild versus stronger immune response, just anecdotally among friends and colleagues in which it seems half had mild and the other half reported "worst feeling ever" but it passed within a few days. On the day I got my 2nd shot, a bunch of friends got it too so we texted each other responses; seemed like around 12-hours was when notable symptoms presented for those with strong response; for others like me, it was just a feeling being "off" I guess, along with the sore arm.

For the last year our primary play has been with my gf and my husband’s best friend, both of whom we have played with for several years. Both my gf and I are on BC and are educated enough to understand the risks of disease. From the very beginning I made it understood that our friend wouldn’t have to stop or withdraw as I would hope he wouldn’t stop just as I was about to orgasm. My husband has the same understanding with my best friend.

Not yet for us, although we will as soon as we can. We have several close family members and friends who have received the vaccine. Some have had just one dose so far, some both. Rough breakdown is 20% have reported experiencing no side effects, 70% reported along the lines of what Mr. and Mrs. FL experienced but to a lesser degree/timeframe (i.e. shot that morning, went to bed early since not feeling too great, woke up fine the next morning), and then 10% had some moderate side effects linger for several days.

This looks interesting, though I’m not sure this NY Times review of “ThereIs No ‘I’ In Threesome” will persuademe to add HBO Maxto my existing HBO subscription. (Of course Kathy and I love New Zealand, so the adventures of this Kiwi couple could persuade me to upgrade our subscription...☺️ ) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/movies/there-is-no-i-in-threesome-review.html?surface=most-popular&fellback=false&req_id=466556926&algo=bandit-all-surfaces&variant=1_bandit-all-surfaces_daysback_4&imp_id=829023391&action=click&module=Most Popular&pgtype=Homepage

Would love to be given some assistance on finding this on google, I’m not the best when it comes to computers and the internet...LOL. I have other talents I am told.

I think that a vaccine will be required for travel.

Thank you! Ever consider a job writing releases for the experts?

Benefactor or Sugar daddy or any other way she needed to support herself is only your and her business. College is hard enough without the fiscal hardships we all went through, how much can we ask our parents for. Not going to imply that many girls had to resort to sex to make extra money, I did know some. There were a few gentleman clubs not far from our campus, our laws stated no nude dancing and girls would pole dance and then have to pay the bar for the stage time. I know for a fact that blow jobs were very common in the back. For a price some went for anything goes. Some of the girls shared a room at a local sleazy motel. Other girls signed up with escort services. Now that we are all older most of these women are married and living their lives normally having kids and grandkids. It’s great that you know and accept what your wife did and it looks like you are enjoying the new opportunities. Enjoy life.

Had first Pfizer, second dose due Feb. 23. Just a sore arm for a couple days. I am currently using two layers of face masks according to CDC guidelines, I'll probably go back to one three weeks after my second dose. I figure I'll be wearing a mask for months yet, but once we're all vaccinated at least I'll get to visit with my family - my son-in-law is a transplant recipient and is seriously compromised.

Mrs. Shy and I are both in healthcare and were vaccinated. Her with Moderna and I had Phizer. Nothing to report. No symptoms afterward. Arm pain was no worse than the flu shot. I had really hoped to wait until the end of the healthcare line but my number was called right after Christmas and was afraid if I decided to wait, I would end up waiting until summer.

First Pfizer on Jan 29 ... second one Feb 19. Both had sore arms the next day. Wife had a few chills and muscle aches several days later. Nothing acetaminophen wouldn’t handle.

Congratulations. Please share your experience with us all. We're going to wait for now, my wife's biochem degree and background is throwing up a few flags on the play. We do not however, suggest others follow our lead, we tend to be out of the mainstream on these things. To your health!

I have a Bi Guy Friend who only wears nylon hose, works for keeping condoms handy.

I once wore an empty extra large bag that had contained potting soil. I went as a dirt bag. I smeared some of the soil on my face, arms and legs for full effect. Another time I went in body paint, as you can see below.

His parents had a closed circle of friends and still got it. It happens. (not swingers) There is no way to be 100%. Everyone has to make the choices they are going to make based on what they feel safe with. Both of us are going to work every day, 5 days a week. Our kids are in school, live and face to face. We just don't see the risks of a meet and greet as that much worse, or even playing with people who are just not showing any signs.

We play games on Zoom with 5-7 lifestyle couples that we know. Only one couple has played with anyone else during the pandemic. They were sheepish to admit it and they admitted it was reckless. The rest are waiting for vaccines. The problem is asymptomatic spread. You have no idea what’s coming. And then if you contract an asymptomatic case and go to a supermarket, you can transmit it to an elderly or immunocompromised person for whom it is serious. Masks are not 100%. So even if you are asymptomatic, it can be fatal for your contacts. We want to live to play another day. And the same for others.

Yes.....most certainly. There are many who get together regularly in a tight circle of family and friends in day to day life. Trust and care is taken to insure they do not place any in dangerous situations by stepping outside their circle. the same also happens with many in the lifestyle. Tight closed circle of intimate friends still getting together socially and intimately. Not stepping out of their circle limiting potential contamination. We are part of that as are many others. But clubbing, open parties new meets are all tragically dangerous behavior. A few area groups, parties have tried to start back up....only to close due to no or very limited attendance......a result of the times.....and common sense.