People bring different boundaries and preferences to relationships. Some expect strict exclusivity, while others are comfortable with more openness.
In California’s South Bay, a group calling themselves The Cule Kids are doing things a little differently: five men are in a committed polyamorous relationship together.
Eric Wong, 33, Hamilton Du, 35, James Lee, 37, Jonathan Chien, 37, and Michael Li, 31, say they get along so well they even co-host a podcast, The Cule Kids.
Even with a low-drama dynamic, they do have a specific guideline when it comes to dating or hooking up outside the group.
To rewind, James and Jonathan were the first pair, starting their relationship in 2013. From the beginning they described it as open, though the idea of actively dating other people developed later on.
The couple married in 2022, after first meeting Eric in 2018. Hamilton joined the group in 2021, followed by Michael in 2022. As their relationship became more defined, they set up a group chat called The Polycule to formalise their five-person polycule.
They also prioritise ongoing communication about anything happening outside the core relationship. If someone goes on a date with another person, it has to be noted in the group’s shared “Cule Log.”
The log is meant to keep everything transparent and also supports practical sexual-health precautions, including making contact tracing easier if an STI concern ever comes up.
“Luckily, the sexual health part hasn’t been the most necessary,” Michael told PA Real Life.
That isn’t their only agreement, though another one is more playful than procedural. They say they spend a significant amount of their time together in the bedroom, but they also make space for regular hangouts—often involving video games—when they meet up weekly.
If a game or activity only appeals to “two or three people,” they’ll split off so no one feels pressured to participate, keeping things enjoyable for everyone.
Hamilton, better known as Milty, told PA Real Life: “I feel so lucky that we have all met each other and that we’re all open to being in a relationship like this.
“It’s such a wonderfully rare thing and so unique that it just so happens to work out this way. I feel very grateful.”
Looking ahead, the group says they’d like to take another big step by living together. For now, JJ and JC share a home, while Michael, Eric, and Milty live separately about 30 minutes away.
In the meantime, they plan to keep building their life together—and continue producing their podcast, The Cule Kids.