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LOCAL NEWS

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Swinging in the suburbs

01:50 PM Mountain Standard Time on Friday, April 27, 2007

By Carey Pena / 3TV reporter

A woman, who we'll call Charlene, describes her background as religious and conservative.

So it might shock you to hear about the life she lives today.

She is sometimes with more than one man in one night.

Charlene and her husband, who we'll call Tom, have an open marriage.

Tom said he loves his wife and that's why he married her.

"This is a decision we've made together that brings a little icing, excitement and spice to the marriage," Charlene said of their open marriage.

In recent years, most of the swingers clubs in Phoenix have been forced out of business.

So Charlene said the party has moved out to the suburbs.

In North Scottsdale, Arcadia and Ahwatukee, swinging is allegedly all the rage.

"We're the same as any other group of friends who get together, have a potluck," Charlene said. "We happen to swim naked or sit in the hot tub naked or occasionally a couple will drift off to a bedroom here or there."

Charlene and Tom both have been married before. They are both busy professionals by day.

By night, they are part of a growing group of so-called suburban swingers.

Also Online

In www.divorcemag.com it is stated 80 percent of divorces are irreconcilable differences.
In 1997, 43 percent of marriages end up in divorce;
First marriages -- 50 percent end up in divorce;
Remarriages -- 60 percent end up in divorce;
There were:
1,163,000 divorces in 1997
2,500,000 divorces in 2002
There was a 115 percent increase in divorce from 1997 to 2002
Not having the exact the numbers of marriages in 2007.
It was deduced by our marriage counselor that we are at an 80 percent divorce rate.

"I think what would surprise the general public is that there are so many of us," she said. "Soccer moms, doctors, attorneys."

Some are even well-known members of the community including celebrities, politicians, sports figures, actors and media personalities.

"I believe nowadays people are saying I want freedom of sexuality," said Ina Mlekush, a marriage counselor. "Do you realize 80 percent of all marriages end in divorce? Eighty percent.

We put more energy into our jobs and careers than we do to our love life with our significant other."

Mlekush focuses on sexual solutions and spirituality and she supports monogamy.

"Monogamy is one of the most challenging and the most beautiful of all relationships," she said.

But she said it's not surprising to find out that more and more couples are negotiating the terms of their relationships.

"Why would you want to learn the cha-cha when you can do the rumba? Why do you want to do the waltz when you can do the salsa?" she asks.

Dancing with different partners certainly raises a lot of questions.

"Is it immoral? Am I having an affair? Is it against my marriage vows?" Charlene asks.

And what does this say about the institution of marriage?

"Some people say marriage is in crisis right now, in turmoil, and it might be an outdated institution," said Sarah Matheson, a psychotherapist.