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Original poster

Has anyone ever had a group of friends like on TV?

56 replies

Gobrookeyourself · 25/09/2022 15:19

Was watching friends earlier and spoke to DH about this. Has anyone ever had a group of friends actually like this? Like in and out of each other’s houses, know everything about each other, casually hang out all the time etc? I personally never have but always watch it whilst wistfully thinking how nice it looks.

does it actually exist or is it just TV? I know it’s probably harder in this day and age with the existence of social media and people working so much.

OP posts:
Imogensmumma · 25/09/2022 15:21

Love that show but it could never exist surely…. They were always with each other or at the coffee house they never worked (or cleaned… except for Monica) …. In reality people don’t have time to always be at someone’s house before and after work

Puppylucky · 25/09/2022 15:25

Yes I did for a while in my 30s. Three couples where 4 out of the 6 of us worked together. It was lovely while it lasted!

Hotandbothereds · 25/09/2022 15:26

I have a few big groups of friends but we don’t all live that close to be in & out of houses etc, maybe when we were students it was kind of like that more but then nobody had the same responsibilities etc.

CaptainMyCaptain · 25/09/2022 15:27

No.

Original poster
Gobrookeyourself · 25/09/2022 15:27

That sounds lovely @Puppylucky , how long did it last? Are you still close now?

OP posts:
Original poster
Gobrookeyourself · 25/09/2022 15:29

Even when Rachel had Emma, her new life just seemed to slot in- no losing touch with anyone, nothing changing. I know that bit is unrealistic, but wondered if anyone has ever had people they’re THAT close to

OP posts:
Runningintolife · 25/09/2022 15:30

I know someone who did - then some people in the group had an affair and it all combusted!

Hardbackwriter · 25/09/2022 15:31

It sort of felt like that in the houseshare I lived in during my PhD - four of us, all really close friends and then now-DH moved in too (he was/is the best friend of one of them). We had a local that we half-lived in, so even our equivalent of the coffee shop. But it was a brief thing, and could only have worked like that at that stage of our life - we were young, all had jobs/income but no real responsibility. We're all still friends now but I think we were last all in one place in 2019.

Laquila · 25/09/2022 15:36

In my student days I guess it was a bit like that, or maybe more so after I graduated and loved in London in a houseshare. When you have a lot of single people living together/hanging out together/working together/occasionally sleeping together then it's hard to avoid I think. Happy, crazy days!

Puppylucky · 25/09/2022 15:38

It lasted about 4 years. We are all still close individually but the group dynamic fell apart when one of the couples split up very acrimoniously. Some lovely memories though!

spring149 · 25/09/2022 15:39

I’ve got a group of about 8 close friends and we meet up, sometimes as a four, sometimes as a six, sometimes as an eight. We never just "turn up" at each other's houses. We arrange it ahead of time. And we've never lived together, perish the thought, but I do like having a big friendship group.

BecauseICan22 · 25/09/2022 15:41

Gobrookeyourself · 25/09/2022 15:19

Was watching friends earlier and spoke to DH about this. Has anyone ever had a group of friends actually like this? Like in and out of each other’s houses, know everything about each other, casually hang out all the time etc? I personally never have but always watch it whilst wistfully thinking how nice it looks.

does it actually exist or is it just TV? I know it’s probably harder in this day and age with the existence of social media and people working so much.

I have something similar but with boundaries, I'm very boundary led! But the fun, support, shared lives and continuity, I absolutely have that within my unit of 6. I'm very blessed.

KimberleyClark · 25/09/2022 15:42

No never been in a group of friends like that. I think I may be autistic I struggle with group dynamics and what I read on here about the drama of group friendships makes me rather glad I’m not in one

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 25/09/2022 15:44

No I don't have a big friendship group. Just ones mainly. Couple friends as well. I did have a three of us but one went crazy over Covid conspiracy theories and drove me away. I feel quite sad about it sometimes but I think I am just that way

Haggisfish3 · 25/09/2022 15:46

I did at uni. Me and two friends lived in a house together and it was the party house with people in and out all of the time. Still see them all lots but we are more spread out.

GobbolinoTheWitchesCat · 25/09/2022 15:46

A couple of times, as a student and for a few years pre pandemic. Big life changes during covid combined with the post-covid effect of all being used to socialising less means that it hasnt lasted!

AgentProvocateur · 25/09/2022 15:47

I’ve got various groups of friends, but one particular group I’ve been friends with for over 30 years and we always spend a week together every year because we live so far apart now. Over the years, we’ve brought babies, children and teenagers and now we’re back to all adults.

Mardyface · 25/09/2022 15:51

I had a couple of times in my life where it felt a bit like that if not actually exactly like that. But life changed and friends don't have to keep in touch with you in the way family is obliged to.

GuybrushT · 25/09/2022 16:04

I'm in my late 30s, and though it's not a big group, I do have 2 other friends who I'm like this with. The three of us text every day about random stuff that just comes to mind, we live close to each other and are regularly in and out of each others houses. We will just hang out frequently on days off/when the kids are at school, watching TV shows we like or drinking endless cups of tea. We also will chum each other on a trip to Sainsbury's or IKEA or something mundane just for the company sometimes. I'd go crazy without them! But I think it works because we live in close proximity and our kids are all similar ages and friends.

TobyEsterhase · 25/09/2022 16:09

Some people like the idea of hanging around in a gang but it's not for me. My 5 closest friends don't know each other and are from different parts of my life.

Met one of my closest friends from school a couple of years ago after a 30 year gap and we had nothing in common.

x2boys · 25/09/2022 16:18

For a short period when I was a student nurse ,five of us shared a house, and we were great friends with the five lads next door ( all students) we had joint parties with them ,all socialised together in and out of each others houses ,I have very fond memories of that time ,but I don't think it would be sustainable for any length of time.

catfunk · 25/09/2022 16:20

My mum and her friends are like this. Closer than family really. They Live in the same village, in and out of each others houses without knocking, see eachother a few times a week and chat on phone most days.
I'm very grateful that she has the company.

Auntpodder · 25/09/2022 16:20

My core friendship group isn’t a million miles away from it. We went to uni together and by coincidence and design live v near other/have spare keys/hangout regularly. I feel v lucky. The big difference between us and Friends is that we all have other friendship groups too.

HarrySmiles · 25/09/2022 16:23

Friends is my favourite tv show all these years later but I'm waaaay too anti-social to live like that.

I'd feel all weird and claustrophobic if people just turned up at my house unannounced 😂

x2boys · 25/09/2022 16:23

I do have a group of special needs mums as a friends ,we all met as we all all have children with disabilities, we have a messenger group text thing ,which we all use daily and try and meet up weekly for a catch up ,but we are not in and out of each others houses