Do you have lots of friends?

FortunesFave · 02/03/2022 22:03

No. I moved countries about 6 years ago and left my closest friend behind. Another lives in a different city and in the city I live in, I have one close friend and a sort of vague friend. the vague friend is a bit like me in that she's introverted and doesn't like crowds so we have occasional walks/coffees. The close friend is someone I could turn up at her house at 1 in the morning in an emergency.

I don't think many people have lots of friends really. Some people are good at having a lot of sort-of-friends and they aren't particularly close to them all. I feel lucky to have the friends I do considering I'm in my late 40s.

My Dd is 17 and has three close friends. I think that's probably normal.

I do love my own company but I make sure to force myself to socialise sometimes because it's good for you...small, regular interactions are healthy.

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 02/03/2022 22:04

Not 1..

Tulips21 · 02/03/2022 22:09

I feel I have a good amount of friends and maybe 6 close friends.

Ive had some of my good friends since school which is great, we message daily, see and speak often.

I have however lost a fair few good friends, or what I considered good friends- They werent v.nice people in the end and were pretty awful to me.

My DM has no friends and the way you've decribed yourself, is like my DM too.
If you're happy, thats all that matters

ofwarren · 02/03/2022 22:11

I have none at all and I like it that way

Readytopop2022x · 02/03/2022 22:16

@buttercupbumblebee

I dont. ! Weird I know, infact it's very strange, but even weirder is that I like it that way. I'm extremely sociable in work and always super chatty and enjoy being in peoples company ( and people enjoy being with me) but I'm equally happy being on my own. Infact I don't really have any friends. Looking back it's been this way my whole life. I'd get a pal and be really great friends, then we would drift (never ever on bad terms) but we'd just move away, or go on different journeys in life. Then a new pal would come along and the same pattern would repeat.

Is anyone else like this? Im genuinely happy in my own wee family bubble and I dont feel I need lots of social interactions to keep me happy, but sometimes I get embarrassed that I don't have many friends ....could I maybe have autism or something?

My sister is exactly the same. She loves just spending time with her DP and children. She used to have loads of friends years ago, and drifted apart. I honestly believe the smaller the circle the happier you are!

XenoBitch · 02/03/2022 22:18

I can count the amount of friends I have on one hand.
I love them, but right now I know I am not well and I am shutting them out.

BuddhaForMary · 02/03/2022 22:21

Nope, and I'm ok with that.

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 02/03/2022 22:22

I’ve got a lot of friends, some closer than others, & feel very lucky for that, but I live on my own and am blissfully happy that way. So no family bubble.

Haggisfish3 · 02/03/2022 22:23

I have lots of friends but dh has a very very few, very close friends.

PatSpringleaf · 02/03/2022 22:25

I'm the same. I don't have any long term friends from school or work. I've had circumstantial friends so we drifted eventually. I've got "mum friends" now which is great for going to the farm or whatever but we're not that close. I let it get to me sometimes but I think I'm quite happy this way too. DH & I spend all of our time together and with family.

Bloodybridget · 02/03/2022 22:32

I have quite a lot of friends, I'd say, but I don't have much day to day interaction with some of them, for various reasons - geography and the pandemic are big factors. I know that when I do see them, or speak to them, it will be a pleasure, and I value all of them. My closest friend (apart from DP) lives a few minutes' walk away and I usually see her once a week and have frequent WhatsApp contact. Friendships are very important for me; we're a retired couple and although we have great families, our lives would be very little and inward-looking without friends.

Davros · 02/03/2022 22:34

Yes. Lots

LizBennet · 02/03/2022 22:35

I'm the polar opposite of my DP. I barely have any, he has loads. He'll chat to anyone though, I hate making small talk, especially with people I don't know.

Lampface · 02/03/2022 22:38

I have got five close friends including my sister.

I have about 10 more people who I would consider friends - not 'phone at 3am when something goes wrong' friends, but 'I would go on holiday/go to an event/etc with you' friends.

And then lots of people who I know and would see at events or whatever and would have a good time with but wouldn't actively see regularly, intentionally.

That feels like enough for me!

tearinghairout · 02/03/2022 22:41

No. I have one friend who I trust completely and I see quite often, but this is a fairly recent thing and is all down to her effort she put in at the beginning (now we both make the effort). I have two others who I also make an effort with, but tbh if I moved away from here I probably wouldn't bother to stay in touch with any of them. I can be sociable and like a laugh but I'm also very happy in my own company. I need solitude to stay sane. I've sometimes wondered if I have mild autism but did an online test and was surprised to find that I don't.

yellowflan · 02/03/2022 22:43

No, I have no friends. I've had acquaintances through various hobbies in the past but not for the past few years as it involved evening meetings and I couldn't be bothered with it after I had my DD. Particularly post-Covid, I have less interest in other people outside our household bubble.

I'd say DH is my best friend and he's similar to me. Gets on with people but doesn't really have friends. Most of my family don't have friends either, they tend to socialise with extended family but mostly keep themselves to themselves.

I don't really have time for friends tbh, even phone calls. All weekends are spent doing family activities, I don't go out in evenings as bedtime drags on, and I'm too busy during the day.

Rivering · 02/03/2022 22:47

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JustSaying101 · 02/03/2022 22:53

More acquaintances than real friends these days. Hoping to make more connections through hobbies, etc, but it is difficult. Think the Covid pandemic has also contributed, as people have chosen to socialise in different ways.

ehb102 · 03/03/2022 07:31

Lots of friends. A fair few good friends. A smaller circle of people I spend time with. A tiny circle of intimate friends. Ever decreasing circles really. Then there's a whole bank of folk who I like and would be better friends with if life allowed.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 03/03/2022 07:34

Yes I do however o my trusted threads I have about 12.

I have lots of friends circles however the 12 above I’d do anything for and then me, equally tho I love being at home.

Madmog · 03/03/2022 08:00

Very lucky in that I have what I consider to be seven genuine friends (ie I believe their life long friends and if I needed one of them now, they'd be there for me).

No pressure to meet, we just see eachother when it works out - a couple I see most weeks as we do the same exercise, but others it can be every six weeks or even three months.

Shoxfordian · 03/03/2022 08:29

I have a few close friends; and a lot of people I’m friendly with but we’re not close

My best friend is my mum

Waxonwaxoff0 · 03/03/2022 09:01

I have a small group of close friends.

Thecomfortador · 03/03/2022 09:10

No I don't. Similarly, I work talking to people all day and enjoy the interaction, but I'm quite happy, and in fact need, to be alone. I do wonder what it's like to be one of those people who is always going out to bars and going on weekends with a group of friends. But then I realise all the social situations - including hobbies that I've done to a reasonably high level - end with me not being able to talk to anyone beyond a basic how are you. I used to wait outside as long as possible at one place I went as they were all so friendly and sociable I couldn't face it. I'd go in just in time to start the activity to avoid having to cope with interaction.

But I'm happy just with my little family, to be honest I often need a break from them, and a little freedom to do a solitary thing such as a walk on my day off and I'm good.