<p>mvr, I am very sorry that you are still hurting. </p>
<p>I haven’t read all of the posts above, so I am sorry if I am being repetitive, but I am wondering if you have considered moving to a place of interest to you where you would be away from him and would have the chance to meet many new people.</p>
<p>Five years seems a long time to be hurting with the intensity that I am hearing in your posts.</p>
<p>Perhaps talking to a therapist or counselor could be helpful as well.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To me, this implies a creepy level of ownership. And gender requirements on friendships? What would you do if your partner was bisexual? Not allow them to have any close friends?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Huh? Really?</p>
<p>I have to say…whatever works for you, works, but I find this whole idea of same-gender-only close friendships for those in relationships to be utterly bizarre and can’t imagine living that way. If that were an expectation, I don’t think I would have relationships. I would break up immediately with any man who refused to let me have good male friends.</p>