Existing or Established Relationship Energy (ERE) is the comfort and security you feel with a longer term partner. It comes from knowing someone for a long time and knowing them well. It is often contrasted with New Relationship Energy (NRE). Also called Old Relationship Energy.
Garden Party Poly (Birthday Party Poly)
A relationship style in which metamours don’t interact frequently, but are comfortable being in the same space for an event, such as the birthday party of their shared partner. This style can be considered to exist in the space between kitchen table poly and parallel poly.
Further Reading
Hierarchical Polyamory
Relationship structure that places more importance on some relationships over others, and can assign ranking to different partners. Usually one primary partner.
Kitchen Table Poly
A relationship style which emphasizes frequent interactions between metamours. The term describes the idea that all of the people involved in the poly relationships would be comfortable sitting around the kitchen table, like a family.
Further Reading
Limerence
Limerence (noun) A type of romantic attraction characterized by obsessive thoughts, fantasies, a desire for, but uncertainty about reciprocation. Limerence has been called the darker side of new relationship energy.
Further Reading
Metamorsel
Metamorsel (noun) – A metamour you find particularly attractive.
Example
Chris is in a romantic relationship with Diva. Dennis is also in a romantic relationship with Chris. Diva looks like a very hot metamorsel in her purple corset.
Metamour
Metamour (noun) – Your lover’s lover. In polyamory you may have a romantic relationship with someone who has more than one ongoing romantic relationship. Someone that your romantic partner is in such a relationship with, but you are not, is a Metamour.
Example
Chris is in a romantic relationship with Jenny. Diva is also in a romantic relationship with Chris. Diva and Jenny are metamours.
Monogamy
A relationship style in which a person shares sex and/or romantic love with one other person. Most commonly, monogamy is practiced by couples that are exclusively sharing sex and romantic love with each other. There are relationships in which one partner practices monogamy, while their partner practices some form of non-monogamy.
Nesting Partner
A nesting partner is one that you share living space with. This may or may not include: owning property, sharing finances, or raising children. It is possible to have multiple nesting partners, and multiple nests (homes).
New Relationship Energy
New relationship energy (NRE), is a euphoric emotional state associated with the early phase of a romantic relationship.