I know couples who are in the lifestyle 24/7, but I don't know anyone who is in it 24/7 with no vanilla attachments.

And as everything within this Lifestyle 24/7 TPE means different things to different people. I don't know if I am submissive submissive type because I have only ever been truly submissive to Him. It is hard for me to describe just how much I adore my Husband - and I do not say this lightly, it has taken us years of heartache and struggle to come to this point. Which is why I don't believe a word that comes from those who post "my master is a god and we are soul mates" posts after knowing said master for only two weeks online - I really don't mean to be cynical, but if such relationships work out, they are few and far in between and I don't know of any personally.

I guess you could say that I am a love slave to my Husband, though that wouldn't be exactly true. And I am fiercely loyal to Him, I have proven that, so you could say I am slavish in my devotion to Him. The thing is I am many things, while not being comfortable with the label.

I do not always behave as a submissive, but He almost always behaves as a Dom. Constantly being in a role, especially one that is rigidly defined, would feel suffocating. We both have very active "vanilla" lives, separately and together, but I wouldn't ever call us vanilla, our relationship and dynamic is about as far from it as you could imagine. My chains are invisible, but they are no less real. We are not in "full mode 24/7", but we are 24/7 - and in case it slips my mind - all it takes is one look from Him to remind me.

He picks my clothes, decides what I eat, my personal happiness with Him is more important to me than my career ambitions (and I am very work oriented), I married Him when everyone else was against it, I get caned (seriously caned) at least once a month, we have a dungeon and play regularly...- and yet I don't feel myself being a slave and even when I say that we are 24/7 (http://www.bdsmlibrary.com/forums/sh...power+exchange) it feels a bit abstract.

And yet a girl who spends two evenings a week wearing nipple clamps for fifteen minutes has no problem calling herself slave with straight face - so maybe it is, you either feel it inside or you don't.

I am submissive, our power exchange pervades our relationship 24/7, my actions may be identical to that of a slave, but I would not call myself a slave and certainly not a 24/7 slave - what I am is His, always.

If you have found something that works for you, if this arrangement feels "right" and makes you feel free - enjoy it, its your life.