to ask how many people you would count as real friends.

[SpudtheScarecrow]

Just that really. In the last couple of years have had the experience where I've been getting to know someone, got on really well with them etc, etc but then something has happened/I've found out we have really different values or something like that that makes me realise that while we will remain friendly we won't make that leap to real/true old friend.

I've got about 4 friends that I'd put in that category - 3 I've had since school and the other since we were first time mums.

(just realised that it could sound like I'm being horribly judgy and dismissing potential friends if they are not up to scratch!! I don't mean that at all just that sometimes you realise you haven't got as much in common as you perhaps think at first.

1 that I would trust with my life, 3 that I almost would and can talk to about anything.

7/8 that I am friends with and we have nights out etc but I reckon will drift apart when the children move schools etc., though we all live in the same village so will prob still see each other sometimes.

Not even to myself mostly if that makes sense.

I prefer my own company and do not like having to justufy myself to people or have ecpectations of me.

Maybe I will make friends with peopme again soon but I have to say the friends I made between 2005 and 2008 put me off.
The using fake psycho badstards :)

Oh and my closest friend is one of 20 years, two of the others about 35 years and one 5 years but I reckon we'll be friends til one of us croaks it.

(again )

Mega hello :)

Ha ha I did laugh when I saw your name there Sole or may I call you 'buddy' or 'pal'?

One very best friend.

Probably 4 or 5 more who are friends from years back but now we live far apart I only see them once a year (or even less).

Another half dozen who are definite friends but I wouldn't necessarily share my innermost secrets with.

I live abroad now so all these friends are 1000 miles away. Everyone where I now live is just an acquaintance.

i can list them (in my head)

they're not all people I see often, but they are people I know will always be there for me no matter what. :)

1: have known since i was in Brownies. used to worry that we weren't life-long friends until she once made the comment "i love that even if I haven't spoken to you in months, when you answer the phone to me, it feels like we spoke yesterday", and then I knew :) (it's been 29 years now!)

2 are a couple now, but i met them both differently - one at college, one through him. she came and helped me give birth and then looked after my shop for a week.

2: met at college and even though I don't see them more often then once a year, if that, I know they'll always be there

1: met at work - a new friend, relatively speaking, but definitely a lifer.

[ahm]
criteria are

8 very good friends - I have known all but two of them for between 25-40 years. I have about 40 'friends' (would invite each other to birthdays etc)

I have 2 friends who I've known for nearly 19yrs and I know I can rely on them for anything and vice versa. One of them is godparent to DS2 with her DH and they were both involved in my wedding. I think I'm in the process of making another really close friend but I'm not sure yet - she's certainly a good friend at this point.

1 friend who I would bare my soul to and she to me, our friendship has lasted 48 years. Otherwise, some good friends but not like my one true best friend.

I thought I had several, people whom I'd known since university. Until I divorced and moved away, and they started saying things to me/about me that I didn't like. During the divorce I went from friend to charity case, and things were never the same after that. I've made my peace with it, after a lot of therapy.

true friends, other than my dh?
My sisters. I have other friends, but none, even the ones I've known forever, come close to that bond. I tell my sisters (one in particular) everything and can be 100% myself and sit in silence with them. I've about three local friends who I really like, get on very very well with, and would help out at the drop of a hat. And several other 'Mummy friends' who I have a coffee with etc.
It's not the sister bond though. Different.

Hmm it's a question that's made me think as I think I have some really good friends but then friends I thought that about 10 years ago some I never hear from as we have drifted apart.
I think as we get older our friends become more static - I'm only mid 20's.
I have 1 very close friend who I see daily and would do anything for and tell anything to.
I have 4 good friends - 3 of which I see regularly the other one regular texts and emails and see infrequently due to distance.
2 fab work mates who also see out of work and get on brilliantly with.
Other groups of friends like hobby friends who I see regularly and get on with but wouldnt say ring in times of crisis.

I feel very lucky having friends and value them a lot. I think not having a close family means valuing friends even more.

I have my sister and my best friend since 1984 (when we were 12)

I have a few mummy friends too.

No friends at all