how "many of you" that there really are that have had successful friendships "throughout" the years outside your marraiges still has yet to be seen. I've only seen maybe two or three of you discussing how easy it is and how it's really not a problem.
Well, I can't speak for anyone else, I can only speak for me. One of my best friends in the world is a woman, and we've been buds ever since we were 9 years old, and we're in our 40's now. Call me silly, but I think would have resented it if a woman I was dating would have insisted I give up a life-long friendship like that. It never would have gotten to marriage, because it would have been such a huge red flag while dating that this woman was just too insecure for marriage.