I liked some things about your article, but the so-called "work spouses" I encountered, often created toxic work environments, especially when the one in charge was the "work spouse" of a subordinate. I also found offices with these types of relationships, innocent or not, causing co-workers to be positioned in factions, and that most often led to an unpleasant work environment. It's great to develop nice co-worker relationships, but it's a slippery slope when you start telling your co-workers or "work spouse" your personal business, disparaging other co-workers and your boss to that person. I feel that's crossing a line. I don't believe in mixing business with pleasure. I don't want anyone I work with being privy to my private life because a lot of people only want to have something to gossip about. Then, when you start disparaging co-workers and your boss, you never know who will betray you behind your back. I've seen employees get fired because they thought the person they were venting to was trustworthy. I firmly believe "work spouses" should just fade to black. If you truly need to vent, that's what your trusted personal friends are for.