Everyone expected my husband and me to merge our friend groups. We never did.
A personal essay explores the benefits of maintaining separate friend groups within a marriage. The author argues that having distinct social circles helps preserve individual interests and keeps the relationship dynamic.
Why it matters
This reflects evolving social norms regarding marriage and individual autonomy, offering a perspective on relationship maintenance.
My husband and I having separate friend groups has been great for our marriage. Maria Polansky My husband and I have been married for five years, yet I've only met his friends a handful of times. Starting in a long-distance relationship set the precedent for us to have separate social circles. Having separate friends helps us pursue our different interests and keeps our marriage exciting. About a month ago, my husband took off for the weekend to celebrate his best friend's birthday without me. He didn't expect me to accompany him, nor was I sad at the thought of not joining him. In fact, I'd already made my own weekend plans, including dinner with a friend that my husband hasn't even met.
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