I've managed to remain friends with just about every guy I've ever dated. A few have even morphed into longterm best friends. So it really bugs me when I'm not able to pull that off -- remaining friends. I think it's sad when someone you've been very close to disappears from your life altogether just because the relationship evolves.

Some female friends of mine tell me that they feel very differently about this - that they do not want any sort of relationship with exes. But for me, having a relationship just disappear as if it never existed is very depressing.