How many good friends do you have?

[Battisborough]

By good friends I don’t mean partners or blood relatives. I mean friends you would meet one to one regularly, regularly confined in and be likely to call if something went really wrong?

I think I have four really good friends. I have about another four or five I would meet 1:1 and tell some personal stuff too and who I care about but not that I believe would transcend moving neighbourhoods, or ceasing to work together.

there is than another circle of have a drink or a coffee with and text reasonably regularly but I don’t feel really close to.

I think my friendships fluctuate. A few months ago I'd have said about 3 good mates but then people go weird and start not replying to messages and popping in and out of your life when you've done nothing wrong. So now I'd probably say one good mate and a handful of acquaintances.

4 very good friends who I'm close to, we confide in each other and have really stood by each other through thick and thin. These friendships range from knowing each other 25 years to 4 years. I then have probably 6 friends I would say are good friends but not the ride or dies like my closest friends. I also have a good friendship group through work and we socialise outside of work every few months.

All in all I'm say I'm very lucky to have really good friends in my life and i truly value and cherish these friendships.

This. Exactly this. I have friends who live hundreds of miles away and we always catch up when they’re around but daily, when the shit hits the fan, no one. It’s calm, peaceful and I don’t have to second guess anything anymore. Possibly ND and find being alone blissful.

If I am honest 0 I am seems to be the forgotten one. If I don't contact for update, I don't hear from my friends, they only contact me if they need something from me.

4 and most of those are school friends known for 40 years plus

God erin thats not nice but feel that way too if they need something they get in touch. I have prob max 3. Rest are crap nobody follows up plans to meet. Just flaky. Feel people not as sincere now.

Thanks Mary 46. Maybe it is because I am not outgoing and quite reserved.

Six real ride-or-dies.

Two I’ve known since schooldays.
Two I met in the last ten years.
Two I met five years ago.

I have other friends too, but these are the ones I’d ring at 3am, and vice-versa.

I thank the Lord for the women in my life. I’m so lucky.

I don’t have any. I have MH issues and don’t leave the house and all my friends dropped away over time. It’s lonely.

Thanks Erin I dont know I just find people more flaky now. Not sure why. Asked my colleague she said she finds same!!

I thought I had about 5 then I got cancer and they pretty much all disappeared. Now I have one, the most unexpected one ever, weren’t that close before hand but they really just came to bat for me last year and were incredibly close now.

4 very good friends
5 more good friends
Then a selection of 'other friends ' from different situations (work, school gate, football etc)

I’m about the same. I also had to work at it. DH had a health scare nearly 10 years ago (false alarm, thankfully) but it made me realise I needed a network. I’m very aware that no network would ever take the place or a husband/partner, but I’m very glad I have some nice friends

Three that I would consider really close friends (i.e. the type you could call at 1am if something awful happened, you know?). Then I have a handful of good friends who are there solely for celebrations and laughs realistically, but who I appreciate very much too.

4 really good friends I would tell anything to, however 1 I rarely see now due to work/ family life she has a very poorly dc so it's difficult to properly see each other.
And a few friends from different circles that we just chat, text , occasional meet up

I have a work colleague who is a good friend and the person I speak most often with, but she has many people she is closer with than me.

Outside of work I have two friends who I can talk openly with but I don’t often see them and we rarely text (they are busy and don’t reply).

Really wish I had more friends in my life! It’s not for want of trying!

About 5 really very close
Loads I’d meet 1:1

Edited as realised I’d already answered 🤣

three. All 20years +

One if I can’t count my sister. I simply don’t want any more than that.

I have two

None. I am very unlikeable

More than 10 I could text and would come to my aid. Some local, some childhood. I invest a lot in friendships, and am a very good friend and make sure I keep up relationships with those not near anymore. Friends with lots of people i’ve managed / worked with over the years. Very close friends I have 3. It was 4, but my good local friend died 2 months ago. First time i’ve lost a close friend and it’s hit me very hard. This friend was like family to me. Makes me treasure my other friends more.

5 close friends, though my definition might be more elastic than the op's. They're people I feel comfortable talking about most things with and feel connected to but are pressure free. I can be myself with them. Two are very old friends, from school or travels, we don't always get to see each other that often due to geography but stay in close contact in other ways and share things about our lives in a similar open way to when we were young. With them I'll always be the person they knew before becoming a wife and mother. Other 3 friends live closer and meet more often. We share things that matter to us but sometimes just natter away about nothing. I always feel better for seeing them. There are another couple of friends where we are less close but really enjoy meeting up, Most of the friends aren't a group, almost all the friendships are 1-to-1 which is what I've realised I enjoy about them.

Someone once told me that there are: 'friends for a reason, friends for a season and friends for life'. I also think close friendship, like most sorts of love, means rediscovering each other at different stages of life, allowing the friendship to adapt and flow as you and they develop and change.

I would say I have 4 good friends, but none of them fill all the criteria you listed. I have one very close friend but she lives the other side of the world. Plenty other friends and acquaintances though and I don’t desire much else tbh.

2- my best friend from school and a friend I met as an adult.

I have other friends but not as close and not people I would turn to in an emergency.