Friends

I have been to lunch today with six friends. We all met over twenty years ago when we worked together. We are all considerate in not 'hogging' the conversation and everyone has an equal say. Now that we are all retired holidays seem to be the main topic of conversation.

Another friend who was exceptionally kind to me when I got divorced now has Alzheimers and I am trying my best to be a good friend to her but it is not easy.

I don't mind my own company...for a bit. I have a wonderful sister who I can share confidences with. But it's the knowing she's there for me that I appreciate the most. I have other close female relatives who's company I enjoy, but I live 200 miles away from them so they are not on my doorstep. I have one really close friend but we only seem to see each other in a crisis , thats only happened since our family's expanded with in-laws & G.C. I have about another 3-4 that I should pay more attention too but haven't the time. So I suppose that the qualities I value the most in my friends is being 'understanding' and tolerant of me

Elegran the real question is 'how much did Ruby charge?'

Thank you Elegran my wording was a bit off but the meaning was there.

I too have never had friends. I like my own company and that of family.

annsixty

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies

PRINTMISS I smiled at your words of wisdom about being a friend if you'd like a friend - exactly what I used to tell the DC years ago. I count myself lucky in that I have 3 good friends of 40 years' standing and these are the ones I can count on as they can count on me.

I find that since retiring I have made new friends thanks to the various activities I am involved in. I must admit that I much prefer people who are upbeat and positive and tend to avoid the moaners. Naturally, some of those who are the most positive are those facing really tough challenges!

My two best friends were my bridesmaids.
They are, I would say above all, trustworthy. Our lives have taken different paths, but it hasnt mattered at all.

Other friends tend to be from shared interests partly. One friendship has turned into a deeper one than I was expecting so that has become a bonus.

I would say that I have only lost one friend who I thought was a deeper friend than she turned out to be. Our lives slightly seperated. But I think also she got a bit jealous of me. I could be wrong.
She slightly seperated from me I thought. So I have seperated that bit further. But now she seems to be coming back again, so we shall see. I miss her really, so I hope so.

Do we really look for things in friends? I find people become friendly, then one or two become firm friends. some of these are the sort as Tegan says you see rarely, and when you meet up, it is as if it was only yesterday that you saw them. It is strange that I happened upon this thread at this time, because I just put on a waistcoat I have had since the year dot, and I clearly remember buying it in Debenham when they opened a new department store in our town. My dear friend was staying with us for a few days, and we ransacked the place, looking for bargains. I have been smiling at memories for the past hour or two (poor old soul!). If you need a friend, be a friend

I am not sure annsixty.

Over the years I've realised that some friends were only friends because I had something in common with them at that moment in time; young mothers/workmates etc. The real friends are those that if you see them or speak to them only once every ten years it's as if you only spoke/saw them yesterday. I wouldn't worry about your friends being internet ones, vampire; during the few years that I've used the internet I find that friends I've made on the interent are as real and genuine as any in 'the real world'. In some cases, even more so. And the great thing about the internet is that you're not phoning people or knocking on their door when they're busy, so you don't feel a nuisance.

I have two sisters who I am very close to. I consider them my best friends. I have one or two friends and we meet up occasionally for lunch etc but I would never really share problems etc with them like I do with my sisters. My DH has no friends but he is very close to my sisters' husbands. I say to him occasionally 'do you wish we had more friends and got more invitations to stuff?' His answer is always the same 'I can't think of anything worse'.

aw vampirequeen <hugs>

Oh vampire - I a sorry to hear that. You are a good virtual friend so take credit for that.

I thought I did not have many friends till I became ill and so many people have shown their true worth as friends - it has been heartening and touching.

I would hope that friends will be there in the bad times as well as the good. I have had times in my life , as we all have, with friends who have been there whatever,and others who have very quickly dropped out when support is needed. I like to think that I have been the former. One couple in particular went up in the world financially and socially and it was amazing how quickly old ties were cut but others are worth their weight in rubies _ is that from the bible.?

I don't have any friends in the real world. I never quite worked out how to make them