Can Men and Women Be Friends?

So the random ramblings continue with the latest issue that has come to mind: Can men and women be friends without sex getting in the way? Sex, as in gender, not actual sex, that is.

I’m incredibly lucky that I have lots of friends, all of who have been invaluable to me over the years and especially during the last few months. I have friends that are girls and friends that are guys who I meet up with now and then for cuppa and a chat. These are people I’ve know for years as well as people I’ve met through my businesses and through work who have become friends.

Having mostly worked in male dominated industries, I’m used to talking to guys as friends, it’s always platonic and never goes further than that. There’s a mutual respect between us in all cases and lines that are not crossed. We usually talk about work or family stuff and they are as much part of my support network as my girl friends.

Some of these friendships have developed whilst I was with my ex, who saw them for what they were and never thought there was anything wrong with meeting up now and then. He had friends from work who were female and he’d meet them for lunch (I know, it’s starting to sound dodgy, but it wasn’t, let’s just run with that).

So now I’m single I might meet a new partner and I’m wondering how they’re going to feel about me going for a cuppa and a chat with guys?

Are they going to feel insecure, threatened, cheated on?

But I refuse to end friendships I’ve had for years.

On the other hand, is it not reasonable to expect that someone of my age is going to have friends that are guys as well as friends that are girls?

Or is this me just being my normal, incredibly naive self?