Day 3: Describe the most rewarding experience you had this year. What made it so rewarding?

I've done lots of really rewarding things this year.  But the single most rewarding experience I've had is still ongoing, and can be summed up with one person's name.  That'd be cheating though.  And this prompt is late, as it is, so I won't give in to the urge to cheat.  Describing, though, means I have to talk about things that I'm not normally very open about, outside of certain social circles.  So, read with care.

I happen to fall into several different subcultures.  One of which is "ethical non-monogamy" -- specifically, polyamory.  The other is BDSM -- where I fall into the submissive category of participants.  I suppose it's pretty obvious why I might not be very open about those things.  Most people freak out a little over each idea, on it's own.  When you combine the two, you tend to be viewed as a bit of a freak.

Anyway... After a bout of relationships (not my core relationship -- other, less monumental ones) ending with all the peace and calm of a nuclear bomb going off, I'd all but removed myself from the dating scene.  I had a couple friends with benefits that I still kept on with, and my live in BF (who I have been referring to as M, on this thing, but that could get confusing now, so I'll call him LIBF from here on out, ok?), and that was good enough.  I didn't need any more heartbreak, so I was keeping to myself.  Of course, the moment I actively stop looking for involvement, that's always the moment when it ends up in my lap (pun kind of intended).

Through a series of events that, in hindsight, were fairly ironic and random at the same time, I met someone in August.  Someone who, for once, was experienced to at least some degree with non-monogamy (rather than the usual parade of single guys who are only with a poly chick cuz they haven't found their "one and only" yet).  Someone who, for once, was into other subcultures I was into (mmm kink).  Someone who thought my lisp (Yeah, a lisp.  Fuck you esSth sthoundsth!) was adorable and sexy.  Someone who wasn't scared off by my unique brand of bat-shit-crazy-ness.  Who was smart, thoughtful, caring, and made me laugh.  Who has the sexiest long hair I'd ever seen in person, the most amazingly bright blue eyes I'd ever looked into, a mouth that I can't look at and do anything other than think of (at least) kissing, and who perked all the "omg geekgasm!" bits of me.  Someone who, instantly and without my even thinking about it in the least, inspired submission in me.

But, I'd taken myself off the market.  Right?  Uh... So much for that idea.

I fell fast enough my head spun.  I fought it, feebly, but that was so futile of an endeavor it barely even counted.  And before I knew it, I was Owned.  Not collared (if you understand the difference, great.  If not, it doesn't really matter much... Kind of like the difference between "committed long term relationship" and "married"), but Owned.  I was property, like I'd always wanted to be, but could never quite get to be.  And my fantasies of a "big poly family", with both my LIBF and my OBF (other boyfriend?  Owner boyfriend? Either works) spending time together, even all of us hanging out and doing mundane things like watching movies with the kiddo, were being fed and fulfilled.

As much drama as there's been around this new relationship (so not going into any of that), as much struggle and bullshit from external sources as there's been, it's been beyond worth it for me, and rewarding in ways I couldn't even imagine.  Sometimes, I see myself as a puzzle that's only partially put together.  There's all these pieces that haven't been put into place yet.  And figuring out how to put those pieces into place is pretty hard, because there's no box top picture to look at and know what the end result is supposed to look like.  And suddenly, a bunch of pieces got put into place.  This whole gigantic section that'd been empty, waiting and aching to be filled, wasn't empty anymore.  There's parts of me that are whole, now, that I had almost given up hope on completing.