Most of the readers of this newsletter are late middle age or older. We’re seen friends come and go. But, some stay, and likely will as long as we live. It’s a lot easier to stay in touch these days through social media, which helps us not forget about one another.
But true friends are rare. Most of us are fortunate to have one or two. Oh, we may have many acquaintances, often people we work with, but they can easily come and go. Our true friends, though — they are always there for us. We can talk to them about anything. They accept us for who we are, not for who they want us to be.
How about you? Do you have more friends today than you had, say 20 years ago? That’s our question for the day. Please feel free to leave a comment.
And, remember, it may take a few moments for the poll to load, so stand by.
Want to find out if friends are close. Ask to be bailed out at 3AM and see who shows up.
What if they don’t have the resources to bail you out? If your parents can’t bail you out, are they no longer your parents?
No, they (parents) are dead. :-/
I have exactly 2 close friends:
My definition of a Close Friend is someone you can trust without a doubt. You can tell them something and expect they won’t share that information with the “National Inquirer”!
Anyone else on my friends list are just acquaintances! And in most cases, I don’t trust them!
Trust is a two way street and it takes one party to take a bold first step, to show that it wants a trusting relationship.
I have the same close friends as I had 20 years ago, except one died this year. I miss her very much.
Other than my bride, none. We can say Jesus Christ is our one true friend, but so many times we need someone with skin.
I have one close friend now and she sleeps with me every night and no it’s not my dog, it’s DW.
Far fewer friends than I used to have. Life changes, time, and geography have us scattered all over the country. We try to stay connected through email, but it’s still difficult and unfortunately the one time we do get together is for a funeral service. Also, this covid %$#* keeps us at home more than we want to be.
The sad truth is that the older we are, the less friends we have, as those we are close to pass away. We do make new friends, but it’s just not the same as those we spent most of our adult lives with. I’m 72 and my mother is 100 and still in good health, but all of her brothers and sisters have passed, and all of her closest friends she had over the years have passed too. It’s the story of life.
Many things happen over the years to change people’s outlooks and beliefs. Over the past three years some friends have exhibited actions and characteristics that have changed my opinion of them so I can no longer refer to them as friends. Now I remain polite and courteous but refrain from past cohesiveness with them. But the real and true long time friends are still there and steadfast. I value them even more now.
At our age, I am 78 and Sandy is 76, the number of close friends is decreasing. We have lost close friends our age, we have lost close friends older than us and we have lost close friends younger than us. Having been RVers for many years and having traveled tens of thousands of miles from Key West, FL to Alaska as well as from Maine to California and most of Canada and so many places in between and having close friends all over this country and Canada, provides us with thousands of wonderful memories with close friends we have met along the way and still visit when we can. You can never have enough friends, especially close friends. Stay safe, Stay well and Safe travels.
Ten years younger than Dick, I have already out lived many friends, just lost another friend whose wife cannot stand me.
So sorry, then its her loss X2.
Same two from the 70s
I have lost too many close friends during those 20 years. I’ve made new friends, but not as close as the ones I’ve lost.
Totally agree, your comment is exactly my thought.
Wow, these are depressing comments. I’ve found a number of new good friends in retirement now that there is more time to cultivate friendships. Our working years were so busy we did not have a large circle of good friends.
I understand it is true that you start to outlive many that you know. But, if you’re coasting on a circle of friends you made back at work or when the kids were small, you might want to get out there and get involved with some new people.
One true friend. Friendship made 39 years ago in the service. Know everything about each other no secrets kept. All others are acquaintances. They nice to see and chat but many are to wanting and think the world revolves around them.
One true friend for over 40 years. Haven’t gotten to see them this last year as he has compromised health condition and we honored his request to stay away. We hope to see them soon when Covid risk reduces and weather gets nicer.
Had to answer no, as the older I get the more I seem to lose. Just lost one yesterday to a car accident.
We’re very sorry to hear that you lost a friend yesterday, squeakytiki. That’s so sad. Our condolences to you, their family and other friends. —Diane at RVtravel.com
squeakytiki’s comment applies to me pretty well. I accumulated friends, many close, in the long ago days when I lived a stationary lifestyle in a house and worked for a living. Since I have lived full time in an RV (only less than 5 years so far) – that seldom stays in the same location more than a week I’ve not collected new ones. And as an 88 year old the group of living close friends has been shrinking steadily.