I'm not sure "married" or "matrimony" even apply to me and my wife. Let's compare just to establish some kind of common ground before talking more about it. Study this a second.
My wife and I are best friends, the way only humans can be best friends. Truly best friends. Were closest of friends, besties, and were so long before we got married.
Sexually, we have an open relationship. Some guys will say, "So you're a cuck!" Ah fuck you, I'm a cuck. Cuck this, asshole -- and I make a fist, willing to follow through if you have any other demeaning names to call me. Look, she's my BEST FRIEND, right? So, like, when *your* best friend comes back from a hot date and tells you he/she just had the most awesome sex, don't you just "high five" them, hand them a beer, say congrats and ask for details?
... I don't "own" her. I'm married to her. So what's that mean? If not "ownership," or "contractual obligation," what's it mean to be married?
To me? It's the recognition that we're best off going through life as life partners. We "belong" to each other only in that sense. We pay bills and taxes together, are the head of the family together playing with and loving our kids and grandkids together. We have each other's back when we face a life challenge. We're totally committed.
Sex? Sex is intimate or fun, recreational or passionate, naughty or just soothingly nice. Or sometimes we just massage/pet, luxuriating in touch.-- whatever. Sex is not marriage. Sex is within the marriage -- or outside of it. But it's not "the" marriage. We play it by ear, but we both know, we'll never find "our like" again. This relationship is *our* relationship. Outsiders are outsiders. They can be fun, but those relationships are separate, and never worth risking this one for.
Really, it was the same when we were a polygamous household. Two of her single-mom friends living here, sharing "me" as a man and her as another woman as made sense. One, very much a voyeur but never a sexual participant. The other, I was her Dom. Man, those were rich times. Everyone's kids living here, household packed with people, all of us bound to each other, secret-sharers, the rest of the world curious but never able to figure us out.
We were a pack, really. Right?
So, isn't that the same with our animals, focusing on our dogs. Same thing. We are all totally committed, members of a "home pack," have each other's backs no matter what. The ones that want/-ed sex (rest their souls, some of them), cool. The ones that don't, cool. It's intimate or fun, recreational or passionate, naughty or just soothingly nice. All of them belong here, with us, part of this "pack," regardless. This relationship is *our* relationship. Outsiders are outsiders. They can be fun, but those relationships are separate, and never worth risking this one for.
Is that matrimony, too? There was no fancy ceremony. Didn't lay out anything for flowers/photography/clothing rental. But it's similar, isn't it.
As much as "matrimony" is related to "primary relationship," our animals certainly have that with us, in whatever capacity we have to be that with each other. We are ours. In that sense only, we belong to each other. Not as owned. As committed and contributing and symbiotic as can be.
Matrimony? I think I have to say yes. Way more so than those who call their household animals "children." Of course, only to the capacity an individual has.
And if matrimony, well then, polygamy, absolutely. Each confident they belong and can never be replaced. Each a fit, tailored to that individual's connection to the others. Each having a unique place as individual but partner.
Yeah, I guess matrimony.