Holy Matrimony. You and your spouse have decided that you want to spend the rest of your lives together. You want to share meals, bills, responsibilities, space and, sometimes, clothes. Yes, it sounds wonderful. It sounds ideal. But is it the most ideal situation you've ever had?

We hear about this concept called "Friends with Benefits." This means that two well-acquainted people occasionally have unattached sexual relations without things getting uncomfortable. Whether a relationship of this nature can last or not is fodder for another essay. Now I want to express the un-uttered fact that, to most people, a committed relationship can never hold up to the bliss of a Friends-with-Benefits. Here's why.

Friends-with-Benefits don't have to be adults
When you're married, reality sets in, and adulthood along with it. The two of you are sharing bills, worrying about mortgage, keeping your place in order and working full-time jobs. These responsibilities can often put stress on the best of relationships. Friends-With-Benefits, on the other hand, never have to really grow up; this kind of romantic relationship is inherently immature. There's nothing to think about except fun and sex. Your relationship is footloose and fancy free.

Friends-with-Benefits don't have to deal with family
There is always a bit of pressure when it comes to the in-laws. "Does his mother think I'm good enough for him?" "Does her father think I am good for the family?" Friends-with-Benefits, however, may never have to even meet each other's families. Each participant in this relationship may not even be aware that the other person has a family. All that matters, really, is each other and the pleasure each one gives to the other. Footloose and Fancy Free.

Friends-with-benefits don't judge
A married person is always a reflection on his or her spouse. Whatever a married person does, he or she has to think about how it will make the other person look or feel. What's more, no one's judgment can be more important or daunting than one's spouse. The thought of being judged negatively by someone with whom one spends so much time with can be depressing, frustrating or infuriating. In contrast, Friends-with-Benefits have much less invested in each other. One may not even care enough to exude energy judging the other. Each person has two responsibilities: being fun and being available. Footloose and Fancy Free.

Friends-with-Benefits don't have to be everything all the time
When you're sharing a life with a significant other, that person is a very significant other. He or she has to play many different roles, for that's what a spouse does. A husband or wife has to be a friend, lover, provider, partner, caretaker, critic and fan. Even if a person enjoys every role, it is a lot to deal with. Adversely, Friends-with-Benefits simply have to be two things: social and sexually available. Regarding those other roles, they simply have a least one person for each role: one friend is a provider, the other a critic, etc. There's no need to pack every role into one poor soul. Footloose and Fancy Free.

Friends with benefits are liberated and liberating
The worst-case scenario in any marriage is the break-up. It is always awkward, always devastating and always life-altering. Without getting into the nasty details, things always get worse before they get better, and getting over each other may not happen overnight. When Friends-with-Benefits end things, they may feel a void where a booty-call used to be, but that usually goes away with the arrival of a new Friend-with-Benefits. Many times, Friends-with-Benefits don't even have to officially end it; one or both parties just stop calling. There can never be a break-up stress when there can never be a real break-up. Footloose, Fancy Free.

So those are just some of the major reasons why the Friend-with-Benefits situation is the more attractive option. For those of you who felt pressured by society or some self-inflicted goal to get married, I hope you've had your chance and don't look back at those days with too much longing. If you've never had a Friend-with-Benefits, I guess you're not missing anything. However, if your spouse has, you need to know something: the real relationship your spouse has with you will never be as fulfilling as the fake relationship your spouse had with someone else.

What do you think of the concept of Friends with Benefits? Is it for you?

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Would you date someone who had previously dated one of your friends?

Yes! I'm perfectly happy to date my friend's exes. They're exes for a reason.

No! It's too incestuous. I don't feel comfortable dating a friend's ex.

Maybe Yes: I haven't had the opportunity, but I don't see a problem with it.

Maybe No: I haven't done it, but I don't think I would.