Many gay men in partnerships assumed that they were safe from AIDS. A good friend of mine had a younger partner, and he thought they had an exclusive relationship. However, the younger partner travelled often on business, and shortly after returning from one business trip, he became ill and tested positive for AIDS. My friend tested negative. It was early in the epidemic, and there were no effective treatments; the younger partner soon died. Luckily, my friend did not test positive, and lived another thirty years, but it permanently affected his attitude towards partnerships.