How many close friends do you have?

[boompah]

Not including family.

I have two. I feel that's low. Have other friends but not close close.

1

I am not close to my family. I probably have 3 friends, maybe 4 that I feel I could call anytime and they’d be there for me. However I don’t necessarily speak to them that often.

It’s about the quality not the quantity

And I think it would also depend how you define as a close friend. Everyone has different expectations of what a close friend should be like.

1. 3 individual friends from childhood, school and Sixth form. 4 from uni in the same group of friends. They are all 3am friends!

1. Had 3, but we’ve all had children, moved away and life has happened. If your friends are true friends that you could call on at any time if needed, I’d rather that than 100 superficial fake friends.

...

i think its how you define it. you can know a lot of people, but in the end who are you calling at 4am when your shitfaced and you need £40 to get home...i only have one of those - 2 at a push

1. Prior to having my three children (3yrs, 21m and 2 weeks old) I had two close friends. They both shit on me. I have no idea why I always seem to pick the wrong people to be friends with. I give my absolute all in friendships but never seem to get the same back. For that reason I've gotten use to my own company and not relied on friends. Then the obvious of having three children very close together so I'm far too preoccupied and happy with them.

2 who would help me bury a body in the middle of the night

4 more who would give me advice on the best place to bury a body in the middle of the night

And I think it would also depend how you define as a close friend. Everyone has different expectations of what a close friend should be like.

This ^

What do you mean by a 'close friend' ?

1. No close friends at all.

I have loads of acquaintances (via a hobby) and quite a few peripheral friends, but I don't seem to get past that stage and become closer. On the rare occasion in the past when I have had a really close friend, they've turned out to be not as much of a friend as I thought they were.

1

Close friends, 3-4. One true best friend.

5 very close friends, 4 from school (primary and secondary) and 1 from uni and then another 2 friends who I'm definitely close to but not call in the night close to. I think that it's not really about a number though, it's more about the quality of the friendships. I feel fortunate to have struck gold when I was younger with meeting some amazing girls who have continued to be amazing as we've got older and 'life' has happened.

1. It's embarrassing and pathetic but I haven't had a friend at all since I left college.

I have three that I talk to most days. They are all friends of at least 20 years (I’m 40) and although only two of us live near each other and we only see each other every few months we’re really active in each other’s lives.

Four.
Depending on the situation I'd possibly include my boyfriend and my daughter which brings it up to six.

One now, sadly another dear friend died.

I also have 3 old friends who I don’t get to see very often due to distance but it’s lovely when we do see each other, I’d say we’re pretty close yet far.

Some friendships just drift apart but it’s interesting to see that quite a few people have fallen out with friends over the years.

None. I have been let down over the years and no longer try to get close to people. My husband is my closest friend.

1. Lots of acquaintances but no true close friends.

Depends on the criteria. I've been a bridesmaid 5 times, so I think others consider me close for sure. However, I'd say only 1 who I could ask to help me to bury a dead body, 3 others who are close and I could go to with most things

Five very close long term friends although sadly none of them live geographically close do don't see very often.
Another 2-3 close-ish friends.

*so not do

I've nurtured multiple friendships over the years.. some have been from childhood, some teens, university and from different origins over adult life.

So I've got quite a few but although I'd be saddened to lose any of them I'm not dependent on any of them...and I think nurturing so many connections would make it easier to withstand the loss of one or two.

It also makes friendships less intense, reducing pressure and making them more likely to stand the test of time.

I'm also more likely to be the one that makes effort and that doesn't bother me. And I'm not offended if someone doesn't have time etc as I recognize everyone has their own things going on.

So maybe someone else wouldn't call those friendships close, but actually they all really have been at times that have mattered for either of us in it.

Friendship is incredibly important to me, but I'm pretty diversified!

1. And I don't see them often, so my life is quite lonely tbh