"Significant Other"

[Cinder & Smoke]

We're a little old for "boyfriend/girlfriend,"
so it's almost to the point where
we should get married ...

HEY Deb ~

Iffin You & ole What's his Name would show up ...
We could get the Mayor to hitch you guys up over Memorial Day
at Findlay in '06!

KatKids could be Ring Bearers!!

[Prairie Purrs]

Once upon a time there was a choice on forms of POSSLQ. Stood for Person of the Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters.

My ex and I actually adopted this one--often we shortened it to "Possel" or "Q."

Charles Osgood even wrote a poem about it. Here's an excerpt:

There's nothing that I wouldn't do
If you would be my POSSLQ.
You live with me, and I with you,
And you will be my POSSLQ.
I'll be your friend and so much more;
That's what a POSSLQ is for.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

It IS a predicament - especially as we get older and the boyfriend/girlfriend sounds a bit immature!!

Warren and I lived together for 8 years before we got married, and were engaged for 3 years, so I just called him my fiancee.

My Mum introduced him to everyone as her SIN-in-Law

[Barbara]

Love that poem. Believe it or not- that term of POSSLQ made it to the back section of my memory some 20 years ago- I believe I read it in Scientific American and never forgot it

Again: when I had surgery 11 years ago, I signed in the paperwork that Siegmar should be able to visit me in ICU after. They said everything would be ok and then they didn't let him see me. And I was just too weak to do what I would have done else- which would be more than a medium drama

But after that we knew this might never happen again. Just in case: if I had fallen into koma or whatever (it was one of the risks) whom could I have trusted but him to close the lines

Now we still have different names. And I'm not just "the family member".

[Oggyflute]

Both Carole and myself use the term "partner". We have never had an actual ceremony as funnily enough,we just never seem to have a grand or two spare to put a "wedding" on. We had our own private ceremony, were we exchanged rings and pledged our life to each other, and in all honesty, thats good enough for me. No doubt we will get around to it one year. My brother in law is a minister and would just love to do the honor's. We have just celebrated our 8th anniversary together. So it's just "partner's" in love & life, always.

[cyber-sibes]

Interesting thread. I remember POSILQ from way back too. I like the sound of it, at least it sounds more interesting than domestic partner, SO, etc. I am married, but I didn't change my last name. So I get these looks like "who are you?" sometimes when we get introduced, go places together, fill out forms, and such. Even though we're married, we still refer to each other as best friend or partner. My good friend & her POSILQ had a "committment ceremony" instead of a wedding, I think just to placate other family members. I'm glad at least whoever you choose is given more legal rights & ins. benefits than years ago. The love & life you share is the important thing!

[Edwina's Secretary]

PCB....they call her that because they are not married...I believe....if you are married and tell them that they won't care about your last name

Yes...we are married. We use different last names. They nevered asked our relationship. They would say..."are you the family member?" I assume that to be the custom. Next time I will have Edwina go instead....

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Can't you just put him down as "lucky"

[Cataholic]

Can't you just put him down as "lucky"

THAT is hysterical!

I have the same, but, different issue with Jonah, and his recent surgery paperwork. "Is there a father"? "MRS Hutchins...he he he (that is Lillycat!)", "does anyone else live in the house..." (Yep, 7 cats!).

I like the look of uncertainty that crosses the face when I fill out paperwork and leave the paternal questions blank. I am sure school will be more of the same.

[RICHARD]

Actually,

My GF's rap name was "50 PER cent"......

She went by '50' because she was half of the relationship.....

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I looked up "Significant other" as one phrase on dictionary.com and got this-

significant other
n.
1. A person, such as a spouse or lover, with whom one shares a long-term sexual relationship.
2. A person, such as a family member or close friend, who is important or influential in one's life: “The most important variable in successful smoking cessation is the support of significant others in the new nonsmoker's life” (Carolyn Reuben).

The first one sounds perfect, but the second sounds much less important. I don't like the second definition.

Another confusion is that Terry is a unisex name. People may wonder when you say "my significant other, Terry" or "my life partner, Terry" if you are straight or gay. Not that it's any of their buisness, and you may or may not care what they think.

My coworker is in the same boat. She is in her 40's and has a long time live in boyfriend. They share a bank account and basically live as a married couple, but are not actually married. She usually refers to him as her boyfriend, but I always think that sounds odd. One because of her age, but also because they are so much more than a boyfriend/girlfriend. When I think of a boyfriend/girlfriend I think of a couple that is dating and they past the dating point.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

One because of her age, but also because they are so much more than a boyfriend/girlfriend. When I think of a boyfriend/girlfriend I think of a couple that is dating and they past the dating point.

aHA! That's why I don't like the term boyfriend. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Sara, maybe they just assumed because you didn't have the same last name that you weren't married. So much for assumptions.

Jo, you are so bad. I hope you don't sent Jonah to a catholic school (I don't even know if you're catholic or not!) because I can just see all those poor nuns trying to figure you out, and you having the time of your life plotting your next move on them.

KBlaix, part of the problem is the unisex name of Terry. I've had to define his sex a few times already, such as when buying airline tickets and such.

I had never even heard the POSSLQ thing until now, much less the poem, but I think it's hilarious!

Once again everybody, thanks for all the laughs.

[Barbara]

Joh, that question "Is there a father?"- I suppose the answer could only be Yes! I do not remember MANY cases of birth by a virgin.
(Next time this thread will go in the doghouse )