NORFOLK -- Polyamory - it's a different take on love and committed relationships.
Polyamory allows committed couples to openly date others.
They say it's not just about physical companionship -- it's about establishing deep, meaningful relationships with people other than your primary partner or spouse.
Feather and Andy have been married for six years. Lee has been dating Kelly for three years - she's one of his four girlfriends. One of those girlfriends is also dating the married Andy. He sees her once a week.
"He has a smile on his face when he comes home so I knew he had a good time," says Andy's wife Feather.
The couples are quick to say they are not swingers.
"The difference between swinging and poly in my mind is it's the relationship," Andy explains.
Lee says it's about intimacy.
"There are plenty of people who I'm in relationships with who we have a lot of intimacy, but we're not sleeping together," he notes.
Feather calls it "responsible monogamy."
"I know where he is and who he's with and he knows where I am and who I'm with," she says.
The couples say it's essential to have that openness, especially when it comes to health issues like STDs. "If I were to get a positive result back, I would be sharing it with my partner immediately," says Andy.
They believe this openness means no cheating, no deceit.
Lee and Kelly and Andy and Feather say communication is essential so jealousy doesn't creep into these multiple love relationships.
Andy says being with one person isn't for him.
"Variety, variety is the spice of life," he says. "We have a loving relationship -- that's important."
There are polyamorous groups across the country. In Hampton Roads, HARP has 500 people on its email list.
