I'm not single, but most of my friends still are.

Over the holidays, I actually find time to see my unattached gals who don't live near me but now have free nights to spare on socializing with their married pal. The best way to catch up, of course, is to hit the town and have fun.

My husband loves my friends, but I see him twitching in pain when I start making plans with them. He doesn't like me going out with single ladies on the prowl and chatting with men.

He worries I'll be out too late, drink too much and act too flirtatious.

His distaste for me partying with the bachelorettes came to a head when I made plans to help my post-breakup friend find a new man.

"You shouldn't be out flirting with other men," he snapped. "You're not a wingman; you're married."

I cringed and spat back that he should trust me.

It's hard to forget I'm married, and I don't go out to pretend I'm not. I wear my wedding band, and I'm not looking for a new man.

My status is part of why it's so much fun to be out and about with girls who aren't attached. We don't have to talk about husbands and cleaning the house; we get to talk about girl stuff and their recent bad dates.

Jack is also wrong that going out means talking to random men and accepting free drinks. I'm a friendly girl, but I'd rather talk to my friends than a greasy guy at the bar who wants to take home any girl who is drunk enough to consent.

I don't miss being single, and I don't regret being married. So what is Jack worried about?

Part of me worries it's his innate need to claim and protect his turf. I'm not property, so I'll just pretend I didn't think of that reason.

He genuinely worries about my safety when I drive late at night, but I realize he just wants me around home where he is happiest. When he committed to me, he felt no need to go out anymore, and he wonders why I want to suffer smoky bars and crowds of sweaty, sex-crazed singles.

He fails to see that it's not about the environment, it's the people who matter.

I could spend all my time with married women talking about scrapbooking and painting, but I would be neglecting the friendships that took me years to build. I won't miss out on my friends because they haven't found husbands yet, and I won't ask them to plan activities that avoid the bar scene.

I'm just fine being the married friend who likes to go out with her single friends. I don't go out with them to relive my glory days.

My husband can sit at home and wait for me to finish my harmless nights with the girls. Maybe as he stews he'll start to realize he's being silly and make some plans with his own friends.

Married people can be fun, too.

Laura Lewis is an adventurous newlywed who has loved, lost and doesn't mind sharing. Her column appears every other Thursday.