Swinging is defined as a form of recreational social and sexual intercourse or encounters between consenting adults.

Swingers consisting of male/female couples and singles meeting with other male/female couples and singles for sex and ongoing intimacy. It is simply put; being open about your sexual feelings and being adventurous enough to act out your fantasies.

The history of the word “swinging” is that it was previously called wife swapping but “wife swappers” needed an easier name to describe the activity. As “wife swapping” gained popularity and media attention in the 1950′s, the activity was changed to “swinging” and more recently “The Lifestyle”.
In reality, swinging dates back at least as far as the days of early Rome and the well-known Roman orgies.

Wife-swapping seemed to be more controlled by men who wanted to trade wives with other men. It is reported that wife-swapping was initiated by military husbands going off to WW1. Friends would arrange parties to wish each other well and the men left behind would promise that if anything happened to a soldier that they would take care of his wife’s needs (including sexually). Later, key parties were created where couples would arrive together and the husband would deposit his keys in a bowl. At the end of the night a woman would choose a set of keys and go home with the keys owner.

In the modern day it has taken the name of swinging, referring to those days of open-sexuality and freedom of enjoyment. Today, swinging seems to be a much more equal opportunity activity where both the males and females are pro-active in finding playmates, each equally enjoying their chosen activities. Although it has to be said there are many more men swinging than women.

Over the last 30 years the lifestyle has become more and more acceptable, as it has continued to spread across the world. The advent of the swinger magazine in the 70′s and 80′s helped swingers in finding other like-minded people. Prior to that, you would mainly find other swingers through people that you knew, and this was not always an easy task! During this time more and more clubs were opening as well (both on-premise and off-premise socials).

In the 80′s, the arrival of the internet helped the lifestyle grow through anonymity. This gave swingers a new avenue for meeting other like minded adults. As the internet grew, knowledge of the lifestyle became world wide knowledge. People who had been practicing swinging for years (behind closed doors) finally found that there was a name for it and more and more people came “out of the closet” and found new friends. Younger couples were discovering this previously unknown phenomenon and opening their minds to much more open sexual relationships, and full filling out their fantasies. A lifestyle that was once primarily peopled by couples in their 40′s and 50′s was becoming an activity shared by younger couples as well.

In 1975, an American doctor founded the lifestyles organization, which began the subsequent hosting of the first Lifestyles Conventions. His main goal was to improve the image within the public sector who regarded the swinging lifestyle as seedy and dirty.
In 1979, Dr. McGinley subsequently founded the NASCA, North American Swing Club Association. His intent was that NASCA serves as a standard organisation for owners of swing clubs. This would be the start of a world wide trend.

Currently the swinging community is experiencing a great surge in interest and common growth in the lifestyle. People throughout the world have engaged in this lifestyle for various reasons of their own.

Swingers often like the lifestyle because they see it as an opportunity to experience the first date feeling once again, and of course live out their fantasies. They feel assurance that they are still an attractive and very desirable person, as well as having the go-ahead to act out their fantasies with their partners consent. Many people find that, in general, people within the swinging lifestyle are accepting to various different types of body’s, ages, shapes and sizes.

Another common reason for participating is the friendships that are typically formed with other swingers. These friendships are different to those conventional ones with “normal friends” as generally, people cannot openly talk about sex, their experiences or fantasies with their non-swinger friends. However, with fellow swingers, it is easy to open up and they tend to feel more comfortable in talking openly about sexual behaviours. For whatever reason you choose to join the swinging community it is a personal reason not to be taken lightly.

Today, swinging can be found in most parts of the world thanks to computers and the www which have by far become the most important tools for swingers. In addition, there are a great number who swing privately with friends who have met through personal ads, swingers clubs, swingers’ sites and various swing publications. There are even hedonism holidays geared at swinging couples, taking them away for days of sun fun and frolics!