Is it genuinely possible to be just friends

[drivinmecrazy]

I've been happily, not so happily and very happy with my DH for almost 30 years.
Along side our relationship has been 'another man'. He's a friend to both of us during this time , my friend for longer.
Friend and I have a bond that seems separate from our marriages.
My DH accepts we have a connection (never acted upon)
DF and I were talking tonight and admitted how we felt (neither would act on it) but we've finally admitted their is a bond that our Other halves don't fulfil.

To us we've always known this.
But I want to know is if this could ever impact on our relationships. It hasn't until this point and hope it never would.
Post is a bit muddled but just wondering if anyone can relate or if I'm all alone

I’m in a very similar situation to you OP. A life that is fine and works but a very deep connection with someone else. A different universe maybe and we would be together possibly.

My situation is difficult. We work together alongside DP in our own business. I make a daily concerted effort to keep it strictly professional. I’m aware that DP is aware of our friendship and I try not to push boundaries. We both have families. I could never turn the life of all those people upside down. I know people that have. They’re in their 70s now and are still happily married so it was worth it for them but I just couldn’t do that.

Another poster asked if the OP would like it if DP had a similar relationship with a woman. Honestly no I wouldn’t which is why I know there’s a relationship there to be saved.

Yes I do think it's possible to be just friends. I have a number of male friends, perhaps more male friends than female actually. I don't fancy any of them and I don't think they fancy me. I just really enjoy their company. Different conversations, different banter and different perspectives. It could be that I've worked in male dominated environments for much of my career. Maybe I've become this way or maybe that's just naturally me. No idea

Sorry I haven't read the full thread but I don't think it's possible to be just friends when one or both of you finds the other attractive, either physically attractive or where there's an intellectual attraction.
There's always going to be that temptation lying in wait, a bit like having a chocolate bar in the cupboard. It's best left in the shop out of reach.