Is your partner your best friend?

[MeMarmite]

And do you think this is a healthy thing?

Lockdown has seen my partner and I both lose some friendships, sadly. Long distance, frayed nerves, and it not being so easy to smooth over difficulties with a takeaway and bottle of wine, etc.

We've realised that we've grown to depend on a much smaller group of people, with each of us being the most prominent support to the other.

I think it's fine, and that it makes sense to consider one another our best friends, but she's wondering if it might make our relationship too insular.

I was interested in others' opinions.

Yes he is. I have a few other close friends but I am married to my best friend.

It doesn't mean that we agree on everything and I argue with him more than I would a friend. I feel more comfortable with him than anyone else.

One of them yes. He's great.

Yes definitely. Not my only friend but my best friend. I find it hard to keep up with people as I get older and being busy with dc, and lockdown has obviously made that worse.

Yes, very much agree with your post

No he's my husband not my friend

Yes he is my best friend. I have other really great friends that I can really rely on but DH is my favourite.

Definitely

No, but he thinks I am his.

Yes. But we were best friends for years before we got together

I used to think it was a bit sad for your bf/gf/partner/spouse to be your best friend. But I was younger then.

I am now married to my best friend and I wouldn't have it any other way. He knows me like no one else. Not even my closest 'girlfriends'

Just to add to that o don't really believe in the concept of adult best friends anyway.

Yeah, we are really emotionally dependent on each other, especially at the moment which worries me a bit.

Yes we are best friends. Thank his, wouldn’t have it through this without that.

Yes absolutely- not my only friend but we are def each other's best friend

Absolutely. He knows me better than anyone in the world does. I'm more comfortable around him than I am with anyone. I do however have a handful of very good, very close friends. So he's not my "only friend". If that makes sense.

@Shoxfordian

No he's my husband not my friend

Ooh, that's interesting, @Shoxfordian.

Obviously you are right! But If you take the qualities of a best friend, would you say your husband embodies them?

Yes he's my best friend. I think we are co-dependent on each other which isn't particularly healthy, but we do have friends and a social life away from one another too.

@LunaHardy

Absolutely. He knows me better than anyone in the world does. I'm more comfortable around him than I am with anyone. I do however have a handful of very good, very close friends. So he's not my "only friend". If that makes sense.

@LunaHardy - you don't need to add 'if that makes sense' at the end of your post - it definitely does!

*pet hate, sorry to detract.

He didn't used to be. He was "the live one of my life". Now he is my best friend. But I also have a female best friend too.

I’m not sure on this.

We have been together 24 years, since we were 17, and he is the love of my life and is at the centre of my world, but my relationships with my friends are also very important to me and I need them in a different way. DH is not very sociable and would say that he just needs me (and the kids) which make me feel slightly guilty!

Yes, he's my best friend, absolutely. I can't imagine having it any other way.

Yes 100%

No. He is my friend but my twin sister is my best friend, followed closely by my brother.

I agree with Luna, too. He’s my absolute best friend, but not my only friend.

No, and I think it’s predominantly women that go in for this “best friend” concept.

The definition of a friend, is someone who you share a mutual affection with, but is exclusive of family or those you’re sexually involved with.

Your spouse or partner is not your “friend”, they are your spouse or partner. This is the category they fill

Your friends are people you have a mutual affection with, but is not your mother, sister, husband, or child. They fill a different category.