I'm a "one at a time" kind of girl. Just how I prefer it.

Nope, even if the relationship is on it's last legs I'd still respect them enough to finish things before I saw anyone else (well so far, but I don't see this changing).

If I’m in, I’m in. And when it’s over it sucks.

I guess I am an underlapper. It can be a matter of years in between.

Pffff. That requires having any kind of relationship at all in the first place.

I'm not that organized.

I'm a believer in finishing one chapter before starting another. And I'm not afraid to be alone.

I'm a overlapper in recovery. Kinda proud of myself for moving away from that behavior. Part of that self assesssment thing I've done in the last 5 years.

Oh, make no bones about it, I'm definitely overlapping. At all times, if possible.

I had girlfriends when I split up with my first wife. Not more than one at a time, though. And with my 2nd and last wife, I was dating men before she left me. So I guess I've overlapped twice.

I'm overlapping right now. I have a gf and bf, and we all know each other. Both of them are currently dating other people. And everyone knows about everyone else. I am friends with 3 of their 4 other partners. There is an incredible amount of trust in our relationships.

Not going to have it any other way. That rules out a lot of otherwise potential partners, but that's a feature.

seems that if you are lining up one while still with another... didn't they used to call that 'cheating'? Even if it's just emotional cheating?

And - how many times does 'overlapping' turn into 'cheating' in the more traditional sense?

I did once. Got caught and felt really awful for the people involved and so angry with myself because that is not the way I would like to be treated. Not comfortable with the concept.

I have never overlapped. I am too selective. There are so few that qualify for my attention. I do not think it is snobbery as I don't condescend. I just want a certain criteria that few have ever met. My friends always said that you are going to be alone your whole life if you don't stop being so picky. But I have no problem withbeing the loner I have always been. Even more so now that I have the resourses to live the manner in which I have grown accustomed.

My ex was the overlapper, still is from what I hear.

I don't know how to answer but being non- monogamous natured and gay, I have met a future partner in my living room, there with my then-current partner, after coming home unexpectedly, and they were NOT expecting me. After five years of monogamy, I felt so free. I was not angry at all. I once fell in love with someone else while in a long term relationship. I realized I was really vulnerable and ended both relationships. Monogamy shuts me down. My husband and I were celebate for 7 years because we were so shut down. I finally just said that I look for other interactions, or we get a divorce. Every relationship is so different. People create patterns, and looking at them gives us the best insight. Bravo Qualia.

I let the partner do it and she hung herself (not literally) and now I'm free

All my relationships have ended solely because they needed to and not because I saw some shiny object more interesting. And that would be mighty risky and confusing. Not for me! But I'm told my last LTR lady was an overlapper. Dang!

I always take a while, usually a year or more, to just be with me when I get out of a relationship

I actually had a chance once. My then partner and I were breaking up and I met a woman at a organization I belonged. We saw each other a couple of times at the meetings and she asked me out. I explained my situation and told her I had to finish my then relationship (I had been the victim of adultery and know how that feels and could never do that to another). When the relationship was over I went back to her and said I was ready. She had started another relationship but was unsure of it and asked me to wait. Several months later she came to me and said it was over (he was too controlling) so we got together. It didn't last but we are still friends.

I didn't get to date much throughout my life for lots of reasons, so no overlap...plus in my moral world this would not be cool.

No never, I have found that when a relationship ends, it is smoother if the other person finds a new partner first. Sure, I get pain, but better than the constant aggro from an ex. So I usually stay away from potential relationships until they have moved on.

Is "overlapping" the nice new term for cheating? If you're in an agreed upon monogamous relationship and you start seeing someone else, you're not an "overlapper" you're an asshole.

If you have to do that, you didn't pick the right person at the get go.

IDK if this counts, but there's pretty much always been a sort of queue of hopefuls waiting for my next break up... (which makes me nervous and unhappy)

In the past, yes. But time has taught me there are worse things than being alone, and I have conquered that fear.