I spend 8-10 hours with them every work day. More than with anyone else - my partner, kids or "actual friends". I've known them for years - I know how their kids are doing, how they feel on a wide variety of topics, we joke, discuss, brainstorm, even fight. We've solved so many challenges together, I've helped them move, and they helped me fix my garage. We have breakfast and lunch together. We go to each other's birthday parties. We've celebrated childbirths and consoled after deaths of loved ones. Our goals in work, and often in life, are shared.

Why on Earth would I not want any of that, and spend all that time out of my life with people who are not also my friends? What a sad way to look at life.

I see this all the time on HN. Why not? I like my coworker friends.