Married, but just best friends living together

[miss grey]

One of my friends confessed that she and her husband (who is also a friend of mine) have become "just best friends living together". They joke about it, but they know it's true. They're been married for two years now with no kids.

She often sleeps over at her other girlfriends' house and spends a few nights at their home. They havent had sex or kissed in a year because "you don't kiss your best friend". They were a couple for 10 years before getting married and since then have bought have a huge house, 5 cars and properties in their name. She says its easier because they get to keep all the possessions, they enjoy their time apart, and have an unspoken understanding that that is what they've become.

I asked, me being the single friend, how that will work out in the long run. She said they're just going with the flow because it's easy. She's not involved with another guy or anything like that. He might be, but she's not sure (and I dont' think she'd really care).

I had a chat with the husband and found out he has some sort of feelings for another woman who lives in Europe. They met on one of his work trips and they started chatting. At the end of the day after all the work is done he regularly chats with that woman until he falls asleep. She's single and knows he's married and they havent been physical, but they know "there is something". They just chat about trivial things and nothing serious and never acknowledge the feelings involved (although I'd consider it as emotional cheating?). He says a divorce would be too messy and he's also just going with the flow. I guess he doesn't feel enough for her to mess up his current setting with his wife.

I'm amused that they chose that arrangement, but as she said, it's easier. I guess I just want to hear the opinion of married people on the matter.

[Minikimini]

I'm not married, but I couldn't lay in a bed every night with a man knowing he's carrying on an emotional affair and pining for someone else, but he's just settling with me because he can't arse himself to just figure out an amicable way of ending the sham of a marriage.

Does your friend long for sexual intimacy? Are they even attracted to one another like that?

Seems so sad and a colossal squandering of their youth.