SEX NOWADAYS

I put SEX on my list of subjects to write about, thinking -- easy subject, I'll just wing it and say what I think.

We're being inundated by sex in movies, literature, television -- in the news, in ads. Is it like the weird weather -- is it global warming, or a warning from above, from Him, Her, or whatever you call God? Is more and more sex a symptom of civilization crumbling?

I Googled "Sex Nowadays." A study has just been published by the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior. They examined everything from condom use to homosexual behavior, to orgasm rates. Researchers from Indiana University surveyed approximately 6000 people -- a random, cross-section sample of 14 to 94-year-olds across the United States.

It was the most comprehensive survey of its kind in nearly two decades and the first to include teenagers. The survey headlined -- "Teenagers are having less sex," (only one fifth of those surveyed had intercourse; and surprisingly, most used condoms), and reported --"Baby boomers are having more sex ," (experimenting, doing it less responsibly than teenagers, often without condoms).

I read various reports on the report -- statistics and percentages (x% does this, y% does that) -- men, women, same sex partners, in relation to oral and anal sex, climaxes, orgasms, and pleasuring oneself. (The research was sponsored by Trojan condoms -- probably that's was why it seemed to be about condoms more than anything else.)

One interesting paragraph said there were 41 different types of "sexual practice categories." There wasn't a list of what the categories or the practices were, just that interesting number 41.

On You Tube I watched TLC's "Sister Wives." a new cable show about day-to-day events in the life of a large polygamous family. The leading man explained that he sleeps with "a sister from the same mister, who's the brother from another mother." That was fun, but watching the dinner table scene, I found myself yawning. (I don't like reality shows and this was definitely slow-moving reality .)

Though there were hundreds of other videos with interesting sex titles, I exited You Tube. I realized that my researching polygamy, or other current sexual practices, was going nowhere.

Why should I bother with reports on what most people my age, or your age, are doing or not doing? If you are wondering what you might be missing, and want to know more about the 41 categories, grab a copy of the Kama Sutra, the ancient Indian Hindu text on pleasure and spirituality. It has detailed pictures of sexual practices that you can share with a partner or partners.

As a youngster, after you've tried it, (had your first sex experience), the best thing to do is pay attention to what you feel -- talk it over with your nearest and dearest, and do what you want to do.

Yes, good sex, bad sex, boring sex is like the weather. If it's raining or snowing and you don't want to get wet, wear a raincoat, or put on rubbers and open your umbrella. If it's a heat wave, the less you wear the better. The weather keeps changing, so you go with the moment.

Turn off the words, don't bother with the reports. Go with what you feel.