"Can men and women really be friends or does Sex always get in the way?"
Great thread- really got me thinking. In my case, sex did not get in the way because we got it out of the way. ;)
My best friend for the past 20 years is a woman- we have both
been married in that time (me once, her twice) and always remained very close. Our relationship started in dating mode, and evolved to platonic for the last 18 years. We trust each other and have never hid our friendship from our spouses.
I suppose the reason it has endured is that we got the lust part out of the way (when we were both single, and there was nothing to hide) and now value the non-sexual aspects of our friendship.
Your story serves as a great argument that, at the very least, your spouse should be your friend. If a marriage is based solely on physical attraction and sex it will not last. You have to live with this person for the rest of your life, afterall.