What period of your life did you make the most friends?

[Heavenly44]

Whether that be school , work , social clubs , when did you make the most friends

I would say primary school was peak popularity for me.

Early-mid twenties and now in my mid-late thirties.

I wasn’t great at making friends at school/uni, I was on the fringes of lots of groups but didn’t ever feel like I was particularly close with anyone, but my social life took off in my twenties and then again recently

University. I remember my phone used to always be ringing.

Then a sort of lull when I had kids...made a few when they went to primary school.

Then emigrated and made more than I had for years. Now 48 and have a good group of about 4 friends here in Australia.

I've kept three of my friends from Uni. And one bestie from school...and one random bestie I made at work after Uni.

Not bad really.

Sixth form college. I had lots of friends at school but I’ve lost touch with most of them whereas I still have a group of friends I met at college who I’d consider myself close to.

Early twenties. First job, really sociable company. Plus I shared a flat with five Aussie girls and they all had a million friends... Never been so busy. Hard to believe, nowadays.

University, first year at work, and my first maternity leave. So all big life changes really

Real friends, aged 18ish to 23ish.

By numbers, probably 5-7 years old?

About 95% were all made between 17 and 20 but not through school uni or work,

Even then the few others were before 30.

I have some people who I like and am friendly with outside of those parameters but not strictly in the close friend category.

I’ve never had a proper friendship stick past 25 even if we have both seemed to like each other and make the effort in the beginning it so how always peters out.

Teens, twenties and sixties. People are very short of time in their 30s and 40s. I have been surprised that I have made some very good friends recently. I am still in touch with a couple of friends from secondary school. Two or three really good friends from each decade seem to become longstanding friends.

I've carried a friend through from every part of my life: primary, secondary, 6th form, what I'll call my training days, from jobs, children's primary and high schools, church, neighbours, my special interest.

What has surprised me is that my closest friends have not always liked each other.

Secondary school/6th form. I went to the same high school and 6th form so by the time we were in 6th form a lot of us had been in school together for at least 5 years. I'm still in touch with a handful of people from then. Three will be lifelong friends. Only really clicked with one or two people from uni and have lost touch with them.

Roses - I agree with that comment, I've never had a 'big group of friends', I met my two closest friends over 50 years at primary school - I've always kept in touch with both of them and although they often ask after each other they are very different people, I love them both dearly and they are both very good friends ... the three of us did meet up a year ago but they didn't get on with each other at all and both commented to me how 'odd' they thought the other was ... I will stick to seeing them separately .

primary school and late 30s is when I felt I had friends. The rest of the time maybe one or two but they were flakey.

I felt very lonely in my high school and university days.

Secondary school for sure, I was not a popular kid at primary but had loads of friends at High school many of whom are still friends. Was a fab period of my life. Also made good friends at uni and after I had DD1.

I have hardly made any new friends since I was 25!

All of my friends are people I have met since the age of 40. I moved away from where I grew up when I was 21, so I keep in touch with some schoolfriends on FB, but never see them. My friends now are from toddler group, school, church and neighbours.

And work of course.

I don't understand people who put a cap on the number of friends they have.

My postgrad days for sure. It was a brilliant time. We were all in out 20s and from all over the world and although we worked hard, there was time for friendships. That was mid to late 1990s, and I’m still friends with my friends from then, even though we’re very scattered.

University then after having dc.

First weeks of university, when I started working at a youngish dynamic company, when I moved to a new country at the same to as quite a few other people in the same situation.

Realistically you don't need to be a soul mate with someone, you just need to be forced together due to circumstances with loads of other people that know no one.

So school, university, starting a job at the same time as other people.

Most that I’ve kept

Motherhood....so when the children were infant school age mainly, though i did make friends at junior school level as well

In my 30s. Well established in my career, single, no children, living in a fab city, and sharing a flat with my best friend. It was the best time of my life if i'm being honest.

University, and the organisations I got involved with whilst there.

DM met loads when we were primary school children, which also coincided with moving to a new area and getting involved in the parish church and babysitting circle. She met lots of people who’ve since become lifelong friends of her and DF. I’m hoping I meet people I genuinely click with that way as I get older too.

I'm mid 40's and always making friends. Still have friends from primary school too. I can't imagine stopping making friends tbh.

27 to 35 was ridiculous, I had many friend groups, I had my friends from gigs, friends from dog park, friends from all my jobs, my amazing cycling crew, and my core group that grew overtime.

Then I moved abroad and started a bit from scratch, got a few very close friends here in the UK, and still a solid gang in France.

I was a friend collector, now I'm more of a minimalist and I like it that way.

University but I don't see any of them now and am only in touch with one.