Do you keep your partners "separate" from your friends?

[SideWinder]

I have a group of friends (known each other for 11 years or so) and the ones with partners keep them totally seperate from the group. Eg when it comes to socialising face to face, drinks out etc.

One friend is now married and has been with her for 5 years. We have met her twice - once was at the wedding and even then it was a very brief introduction.

Another friend, well we only met the partner at wedding mentioned above for the first time and together for around 3/4 years.

And the third has been with his for 5 years and we have all met her twice.

Guess in my view it would be more "normal" to have our normal nights out, friends bringing partners and perhaps the girls making friends with each other?

Think i am obviously the only one bothered/finds it a bit bizaare.

 

[SideWinder]

That is odd.

My group of friends always meets up with partners (who are also all friends). The lads might go mountain biking while the girls look after the kids (how sexist) but we will always meet up as a group for food/drinks later.

Mm that is kinda what i was getting at. Girls making friends with each other as the common interest is they are with guys who all went to Uni together.

EDIT: As in, yes we're on the same page and i agree with you!

 

[SideWinder]

Further information...obviously i tried to set up events (bring X along!) etc but to no avail. I think it is just me that seems bothered by it...and i am without a partner.

 

[SideWinder]

You're assuming your friend keeps his partner at arms length, could it be that she detests his friends?
Had similar with a previous girlfriend (actually she just hated everyone, including me )

For all 3? I do think possibly for 1 to be honest.

 

[SideWinder]

@Malevolence - Alan Partridge swinger episode right?

 

[SideWinder]

I don't really think it's that abnormal.

It's fairly common for people to act differently depending on who they're around, people often believe that a persons personality is set in stone but it's usually a little more complex than that. While your friends might get on with and love their partners, the face the partner sees may differ from the one you see -- meaning the partner could be a different enough person as to not be compatible with certain friends and vice versa. I'm sure most people have friends they love to spend time with that they'd not necessarily invite to spend time with certain other friends who they equally enjoy being around.

Then there's the fact a lot of people need their own space, which doesn't necessarily translate into wanting time alone. It could be that for them, being part of a healthy relationship also means having time away from their loved one to pursue hobbies or even simple friendships. Being in a relationship doesn't mean you have to be joined at the hip.

Interesting points and that does make sense.