Sexcetera: Advice from Steve

Q: A really hot guy I met at a club a couple of weeks ago invited me to go down the Shore with him. I don't know him that well, but I'm super-psyched. I'm also a little nervous because he says he wants to have sex in the hotel pool and also the hot tub, which sounds super sexy, but how's that going to work with a condom?

Mia: Don't do it, girl. For starters, do you really want all that chlorinated water pushed where the sun doesn't shine? And until you're in a monogamous relationship with a guy whose HIV status you know, you really should avoid pool or hot-tub sex because chlorine can cause condoms to degrade. Then there's the problem of possible slippage caused by water getting inside the condom. It could slip off while you and your hot honey are making so many waves that neither of you even notice.

Vacations are for getting away from your problems — not creating whole new ones such as unwanted pregnancies or a sexually transmitted disease. So get turned on poolside, but move everything else inside where you have more control — not to mention fewer prying eyes.

Steve: If humans were meant to have sex in the water, we'd have fins. Or at least webbed feet. Mia's right. Play it safe.

Q: My sex life always screeches to a halt this time of year when my husband's kids arrive for the summer. They're great kids, but having our house invaded for nearly the entire summer is a total buzzkill. We always wind up cranky and short with each other.

To make things worse, we don't have air conditioning. I find myself wanting to just scream.

Steve: I assume the kids sleep. That's the time to play. Or get a babysitter for an hour or two.

Mia: Take the little bundles of joy to a movie theater for a double feature. And while they're away, put a fan at the head of your bed, grab a bowl of ice and get creative. Or even better, stop by Home Depot and splurge on an air conditioner for your bedroom. You'll be glad you did.