We are the company we keep. Or are we?

What is a friend? It is a term I only use for people very close to me and those are not numerous, nor are most peoples.

I have a lot of acquaintances and similarity really depends on what facet of someone you are looking at. DH is active un amateur operatics. A lot of his friends are from that world, but shared age, socio-economic background, income, no idea. It is the same with me. Most of my acquaintances share my interest in archaeology, but other personal characteristisc, some do, some don't

My personal friends vary. It is all to do with how they came into my life and how they have developed, as I have, since we met.

Interesting, I feel I have lots of acquaintances that I could call on for a chat, but friends to call on if I was in need......a whole new ball game!
Very few and far between ?

Most of my friends are similar to me-Brexiteers and atheists- so we find very little to disagree about but I'm happy to discuss most subjects with anyone I meet.

All my friends are very different from both myself and each other!... it's having a friend for each occasion I guess!

Some people like to think they have loads of friends and they surround themselves with no end of people.... but they are not real friends as far as I can see....

I haven't a clue how anyone I know voted in the referendum, including my close friends. I can hazard a guess about a couple, but that is it.

I can discuss current issues with my friends, but without party allegiance or politics coming into it. We talk about matters from a personal point of view and our take on a situation. I have no idea how my frinds vote either, although, again, I could hazard a guess how several vote.

I would hate to have friends I couldn't disagree with. Very boring.

My friends are from all different walks of life. Some I see often and others pop in and out. I love and celebrate all our differences. Keeps me on my toes.

Vive la difference. Great to have friends from all walks of life. I have lots of interesting friends, some are great at in depth chat, others lots of fun, some artistic, some all of these things. My closest friends are the ones I know I can trust with my innermost secrets, there are only a few of those sadly.

I have reached the age of sixty six and have no friends. I don't know how to make friends. I am lonely and sad and would dearly love a friend to have coffee/tea or to call of I was low or happy. My life is a quiet sad lonely affair that I.hate.

Well I actually have had my closest friends in one room. They didn't previously know each other. It was for my 50th birthday. I wanted to host a lunch party for my best female friends (although 3 chaps joined us for coffee). I wasn't surprised that they all got on well and chatted away. I think they all have good social skills and could usually find something in common. It was such a happy event that I repeated it for my 60th. Virtually the same people attended and the chat picked up where it left off. I have very nice ladies as friends and I know I'm lucky. I take nothing for granted.

Marnie that was a sad read. Perhaps on here we can all be your virtual friends? I know it’s not the same but I’m sure we do care. ?

Marnie How sad. Have you had friends you have lost or just never made any? I confess I am not good at making friends, a peripatetic childhood and going to lots of schools meant I rarely had a chance to reach the point where friendships 'jell', so never quite learned the knack.

The friends I have, have mainly befriended me, usually through a common interest: both being members of the awkward squad at school, likewise at university and likewise again in one of my jobs, both having children with the same problems as a young mothers, and most recently through Gransnet, a member who lives close by, we met for coffee at a troubled time and found we had a lot of itnerests in common.

Do you have any idea why you find it difficult to make friends? Have you had any counselling to help you? Are you a joiner, or do you just hope something might happen? Perhaps now your lack of expectation is self fulfilling?

Marnie There was a thread started here a while ago, and there are lots of us friendless people! (me included)
There were also others who realised they had just acquaintances rather than good friends.
I have only one or two friends myself. I don't know why, I'm not particularly shy, or horrible, I don't think.