AIBU to spend time with a male friend?

[EvenSmilingMakesMyFaceAche]

Cuddling on the sofa this evening with DH, and I said that I'd really enjoyed the walk I'd taken today. He asked where I'd been, and I said I'd met a (male) friend at a country park.
For context, this is someone I know from a group that we're both members of that meets roughly every 6 weeks. It's a very close, friendly group but I hadn't ever seen him outside the group before, if that's relevant.
My DH stiffens and says he's really not happy with it. I look at him, kind of astounded, and ask why not? He says I can't be spending hours in the woods with a young man (friend is about 10 years younger than me) and he just doesn't think it's ok. He's gone off upstairs now because he's upset about it.
So I wanted to ask - is he right to feel so miffed? Was I unreasonable to meet a male friend and go for a walk?

Would you feel weird if he did that with a female friend and only mentioned it after the event? Is it normal for your relationship? I wouldn’t feel great, but my DH is pretty antisocial.

I wouldn't be pleased with it. I understand we are all allowed to have friends etc but if my boyfriend said he met up with a girlfriend to talk etc I would wonder why. Boys meet with boys because they tend to have similar interests (that their girlfriends don't tend to share, like football etc) but I wonder what he would get out of being friends with another woman?

Maybe I'm ignorant and close minded but I would think it strange, sorry OP

*girl friend not girlfriend

I wouldn't like it either. Are you interested in the other man? It seems strange that you didn't mention your arrangements until you were asked

Did you arrange to meet or did you happen to bump into them?

I'm all for platonic friendships by the way. I just think this sounds a bit off in the way it was presented.

Yeah, have to agree, I wouldn't be happy

Well I'm guessing the OP didn't mention it because she saw nothing in it! Personally I don't think you're BU going for a walk, however considering the reaction of your DH I wouldn't do it again as it's really upset him. He probably has trouble accepting you're friends and nothing more. PS The woods in November are way too cold for any of that!!

Two friends go for a walk 🤷🏽‍♀️

I meet male friends (and, in fact, went for a walk with one at the weekend) and we manage not to shag each other or even disclose relationship info to each other. We discussed work, parents, Greek Orthodox churches, a lack of desire for cake, Mayfair, the Dior store and Selfridges amazing Christmas windows (amongst other things).

Oh good god. What he is basically telling you OP is that he doesn't trust you. Otherwise he wouldn't be bothered.

Honestly i'd be a bit pee'd off if DH went out to the park for the afternoon with a woman from a group.

You'll get lots of replies from posters saying they wouldn't care ... and one's like mine saying they would. The main thing is it's your DH who has the hump so you it's him you need to be talking to really.

Posted too soon...

... wouldn’t and doesn’t bother me in the slightest and I’d be very at a partner who sulked as a result of a walk with a mate.

Are men only allowed male friends, & women only female friends???

I don’t think there’s anything wrong in it but I still see my male friends alone without my DG having an issue with it. These are guys I was friends with before I met DH though so perhaps he doesn’t feel threatened. I’ve always had good friends that are men and don’t see why you can’t have friends of the opposite sex without others assuming it’s something more than friendship.

No I'm not interested in him. I don't think I waited to be asked, I brought up talking about my day. I've been going out for walks recently but I don't really feel safe on my own, so I've met friends a couple of times but this is the first time it's been a male friend. I didn't really give that any thought. We have a shared interest through the nature of the group that we belong to.
I couldn't believe that the gender of the person I was walking with would be an issue, but it seem my DH might have a point

It would go against the boundaries set in my relationship, so I'd be annoyed if my DH did this. He'd also be annoyed if I did.

Nah I wouldn't be happy with that. It sounds like a date. Your poor fella.

OP if your DP makes a big deal out of this I hope the roles will be reversed should he ever decide to meet a female friend for a catch up

This is MN any male spending time with a female friend will be accused (at the very least) of having an emotional affair. So plenty of people are going to say its wrong. Personally myself and DP have friends of both sexes we might wish to spend tume with bug we would usually memtion it before hand.

Definitely not a date!!!

Have to agree with the others.

Wouldn't work in our relationship.
OP I can see why your OH was upset- mine would be too.

Ergh I can’t believe these answers! You’ve done nothing wrong! God forbid any woman can spend a bit of time with a man who’s not her husband without falling in his cock.
Glad my husband isn’t jealous or controlling.

Everybody who is against this...do you literally not allow your OH to have female friends??? Like, how do you police that?

I'm really surprised that so many people wouldn't be comfortable with this.

I have a male friend that I sometimes go and see films and bands with.

My dp has female friends from work and sometimes meets up with them for coffee or lunch.

I am struggling to see why it's a problem for women to have male friends or for men to have female friends.

Have you never had the 'how do feel about friends of the opposite sex' chat with DH?

We're all different. It's nice if you both feel the same. If not then compromises have to be made.