Can on-line work? I depends upon what you are looking for. Your status is "married for over a decade". If you still are then r/l is a hard option unless your marriage is remarkably open. If you aren't married then, again what are you looking for? There is certainly plenty of role play without strings available. And there are plenty of temporary relationships. If you are looking for a D/s relationship that could turn into r/l, then as several have offered it is possible. And trolls pass through in both sub and Dom categories. We (sassy chikk and I) have been together for over two years o/l only (not necessarily by choice) which is about one and a half years longer than she expected. Easy? Hardly. Frustrating? Definitely. Worth it? Also definitely. Patience IS required (which is ironic because she has none.) And time is necessary because you don't have the luxury of seeing the little tell-tales that physical presence provides. You have been down one lane of that road and it wasn't a smooth nor happy result. As others have said....be careful. Take a lot of time. If he pushes too fast, ask why. If he won't slow down, ask yourself why. And why it will work. Once burned, thrice shy.