I'm currently in an open relationship with my partner. And I have to say that there is no THE WAY of initiating the conversation to discuss how to have an open relationship there are different ways about getting there. You have to have a good sense of your partner's limits. We are both basically promiscuous people so I felt that it could work. On the other hand, I've known other people who are more prudish so I wouldn't even think about asking
As for us, my partner brought up how it was getting a little boring and I agreed so I suggested that we should consider swinging with other couples for more variety. Then we agreed on the ground rules.
We have get togethers with other couples and swap partners. This arrangement where we do it out in the open is much better than cheating and our relationship has actually benefited from it.
This is so true. I would agree on what you've listed here, especially when both of you are promiscuous. I wasn't in the relationship but was the "3rd person". Years ago, I met a guy, he kept pursuing me until I gave up and had sex with him on first time that I met him. When I met him for a 2nd time, he explained to me that he's in an open marriage with another guy. He said that both have agreed on allowing each other taking home whoever they want, no need to explain or approval.
This gave me a permission to continuing seeing him, otherwise, I wouldn't want to be involve. What I've found out later was during a few times that I stayed overnight with him, his partner displayed some very odd behaviors more like jealously type, either the night before or the morning after. I was never introduced to his partner but did see him at a distance at times when I was at their house.
They both had separate bedrooms, his partner on 2nd, he had his on 3rd floor.