I thought of an evil, but possibly awesome idea: Does anyone remember Teddy Ruxpin?
Oof. I'm old enough that I had a hand-me-down one as a kid. Not soft enough to sleep on, on account of having a cassette player for a torso, but I was pretty fond of 'em! Not sure I'm super into the Internet-Of-Things always online part of this plan, but a toy that takes advantage of compact storage media and small computers to be both soft AND able to sing, tell stories, or converse could honestly be nice. My niece and nephew have stuffed toys that sorta respond to voice, but mostly they just sing songs.
She's decidedly poly, which I have no prior experience with. Objectively, I don't think I have any qualms with this, and it's not my intention to change this (the two points of which I thiiiink about cover my responsibility on the matter?), but it's still a dimension I'm approaching gingerly. If anyone in the poly community has sage advice/warnings/directives for a newcomer they wouldn't mind PMing me (or sharing with the community if that's your speed), I'd love to hear it.
First, congrats on the nice date! Second, I was having issues with DMs, so *dusts off the Pontificating Soapbox.*
My first serious relationship in college was poly; I wasn't sure if I was poly at the time, but I felt fine with it in concept. And it turns out, today, that I am! But back then, my unmanaged BPD, abandonment anxiety, and other relationship insecurity stuff had me constantly looking for reassurance from my partners, or fearing I'd be left, etc. It was almost certainly exhausting, and stressful. And I definitely got insecurely jealous at least as often as I felt compersion (basically, joy at the happiness and fulfillment of someone else). These are things I was able to work through in time, and I'm in a fulfilling poly sitch now... but it did take time and self reflection.
YMMV on what issues to prepare for, but speaking generally... I think some helpful realizations were that time is a finite resource for people, but love isn't. And that a person can seek different things from different partners, without diminishing the importance of any one relationship in a polycule. It's like how people in mono relationships need friend networks and other people they're close with to go to; no one relationship has to provide everything to someone else (that'd be silly, and probably unhealthy). That and the importance of boundaries and open communication; asking for things you need or want, expressing insecurities or seeking reassurance as necessary and *Believing* it, setting and enforcing boundaries where necessary, and making sure you and your partner(s) are getting what you want out of your time together. Normal relationship stuff, just laid out a bit different.
Also: Snakes are great! One of my mom's boyfriends had one: a real sweetie who liked to get all twined up in warm hands. I vaguely remember that they peed on me though, which complicated my feelings for a while.
Good things from the last few weeks:
The quails I've been co-parenting with my flatmate have laid their first eggs! And my stars, but there are far too many. Looking to rehome some hens, and find locals interested in eggs ATM, before I move and he drowns in a sea of tiny spotty eggs.
After hunting for months, I landed an apartment with one of my partners! Upper floor of a home, short bike ride outside the city. There's a large unused yard with several raised garden beds, room for a quail run, a spare office room, and plenty of sun. You would not believe how excited I am for cozy domesticity, and sharing the burdens and joys of day-to-day living. Goodness.
Been struggling to land long-term Game Design/UX/Programming work with a studio that allows full-time remote (and *doesn't* employ a gaggle of sex-pests). Got disheartened, asked for help from friends... and now I've got people pulling for me at various neat studios, and keeping eyes out for good offers. Deeply thankful, and thoroughly re-encouraged!