Friends issue.....can you make any sense of this please?

I've moved so many times in my life, I wouldn't know who those "school gate friends" were from 30 years ago. They are long gone for me. Where I live now, I hardly know anyone and certainly wouldn't say I have any friends apart from family. If your life has changed and you no longer have anything in common with those people, it's nothing to fret about. Just move on .

KatyK - no, I don't think it's bad. My mother was like that. However, if you happen to be an only child and move away from your home town, it is nice to have friends.

I am somebody who enjoys her friendships but I don't tell people all my business and, when I've moved to different places, some friendships do fall by the wayside. Like you, I help a friend if necessary.

It must be lovely to have sisters who are friends too although I recognise some people have difficult relationships with members of their family.

I'm one of those odd (I think) people who has never felt the need for friends. Sometimes they are more trouble than they are worth. I have a few who I meet up with occasionally for lunch etc and it's nice but it wouldn't break my heart if I never saw them again. That's bad isn't it? I would, and have done, anything to help them if they are in trouble. Maybe it's because I have sisters to whom I am very close.

It’s a bit more difficult to walk away and leave an old friendship in the past if, as oldbatty says, they are still living very close to her.
I am not sure what I would do. I would feel uncomfortable around people who gossiped, too.
I realise that’s not very constructive but I think all you can do is rise above it oldbatty and be the better person. Perhaps if you subtly indicate that you don’t like the gossip, the others might follow your lead.

There is no necessity to do anything. Friendships often naturally peter out just like a flame can do and it is the better way to allow that to happen rather than do the kind of thing like 'blocking' which people seem to find necessary nowadays. This 'action' makes something out of a non issue and can be both hurtful and insulting so it is much better to let relationships and unwanted friendships just slide quietly away. The other person may well feel quite upset and hurt and is denied closure - not nice.

I'd just let things slide. People and situations change and, now that your children have grown up, you've probably evolved differently.

You don't have to feel bad. All you need to do is be polite and pass on if your paths happen to cross. You'll probably find that, before you know it, six months have gone by and you haven't set eyes on her. I often don't speak to people who live near me for ages and it is purely because I don't see them and not because I dislike them.

stella and jen, thanks. grannyactivist also thanks. There is no sense in it at all, other than feeling a bit lonely .

Hi oldbatty - I'm wondering what else is going on in your life at the moment that gives you the time to be fretting about this. Worry loves a vacuum, so maybe find something rather more enjoyable to fill your time with and be polite, but move swiftly along when you come across these old 'friends'.

NO, it makes no sense, you were never best buddies so what's the problem, if you don't feel happy associating with them then don't.

Just move on - you used to have a casual friendship and now you don't. Nothing to stew about , it happens in life.

Friendships do sometimes run their course and the trick is to know when to let go. Sounds like this one has reached that point.