I hope they help.

I learned a bit the hard way how easy it is to fall into and how hard it is to extricate one's self from inappropriate "friendships."

I think it's generally very hard for two people of compatible sexualities to nurture and sustain a long-term friendship without romance butting in from time to time. Intimacy is intimacy is intimacy on some level. Not to be too "When Harry Met Sally" about it, but I think it's smart to watch how much and what kind of time one spends with someone of a compatible sexuality.

If both parties like each other, but can't do anything about it, there's that tension. If one likes the other but can't do anything, there's that tension. Even if neither likes the other, there is still the tension of the perception that one might be interested in the other. That perception can be held by either "friend" in the relationship, either SO of the parties, or anyone on the outside ...

In other words, if it's a binary scale "like or don't like" in a relationship between two sexuality-compatible individuals, there are three outcomes that are generally unacceptable and one that is acceptable, but that may nonetheless be perceived as unacceptable.

You can say "Who cares what other people think!?" ... the real answer is ... if you're in a marriage ... a lot of people care. A marriage functions on the notion of honesty, respect and integrity. Propriety makes that so much easier.

Personally, I avoid one-on-one time with straight or bi women who aren't my wife and try to limit text exchanges to ones where I have a pretty specific reason. It's a guideline that makes my life a helluva lot easier ... I still have a number of women who I count as friends ... even dear friends.