Perhaps to each is own? I just know in my circle of friends...married people don't spend time alone with someone of the other sex. We hang out together as couples. Visiting some 'friends' is the key to me, there were others there. I just feel like a lunch out with another married man from your past when your married sounds like a date. Especially since you say you already know how he will react. Unless you've done this before and are just going by previous reactions...why exactly are you anticipating it? Could it be that you know it's a natural reaction to object to your wife being alone with another man? (not for work or planning something etc...) Him keeping you from your friends is a problem I agree, but not wanting his wife out to lunch by herself with another man sounds reasonable to me. I mean my husband and I just wouldn't do that...we hang out with friends without the other but never soley alone with a member of the opposite sex. Just doesn't seem like a good idea to me, but perhaps someone else will post what you want to hear?