With summer coming to an end, summer love sadly comes to an end as well. But instead of heartbreak this year, why not try something new for your fall affair: like having three of them. Its called polyamory, and it’s a lot of loving, but in groups.

Considering the state of marriage in America today, it’s actually quite a logical concept. According to U.S. Census data from 2003, the rate of divorce is now more than half the rate of marriages every year, and growing. The data also points out that the median length of marriage is down to about seven or eight years.

So why not discard this traditional mode of strict binding relationships and consider one that might even last a decade - what a concept!

We should make a distinction though, that we are not talking about polygamy. With polygamy, generally one spouse in an opposite-sex relationship has multiple partners. With polyamory, however, the mathematical (and exponential!) possibilities are endless. You could have lovers to the nth degree! Both partners, which could be of any sex, generally share partners or establish relationships they are comfortable among themselves.

In her book “Polyamory: The New Love Without Limits,” Dr. Deborah Anapol describes several possible situations as “polyfidelity,” “open group marriage,” or an "intimate network." The options available with polyamory reach far from the traditional polygamy image of the one man with many wives.

It is also important to make clear that polyamory is not the same as "swinging." It is not based on sexual flings and unattached physical pleasure with multiple people, but with lasting relationships with several partners, what Anapol describes as “responsible nonmonogamy.”

As part of this, polyamory rests entirely on the ability to communicate and feel secure in a relationship. These are two requirements that traditional norms would consider essential for a healthy relationship anyway. In fact, what is jealously really but an emotion that tells us we need to communicate our needs better to our lovers and reminds us of our own insecurities. What better way to overcome those insecurities! Onward to security!

If you are currently in what you consider a healthy monogamous relationship, maybe now is not the best time to bring up the polyamory option with your partner. But if you are single, why not try bringing this possibility into your next relationship with you. And if you are in a relationship where that monogamy has already been broken, why not try an alternative that could resolve instead of exacerbate any already existing pain and frustration.

And next time you find your partner staring at someone else, you won't have to consider it a threat to your relationship. You can consider it an opportunity.