Not many friends, and really not a priority for the ones I do have

[Neverafrownwithgoldenbrown]

Luckily I have a very supportive partner. He pointed out that he noticed the friends I have don't really prioritise me.
There's one who I've known for many years who's great but always wants to meet close to where she lives, plus she drives and I don't.
I did tell this to her how I felt and she seemed to compromise but she's never been to where I actually live, or seen my flat etc.
Now she's heavily pregnant so I feel it's not really fair to ask her to come here.
She lives around 10 miles away

Another friend, I'm sick of hearing every single time how she's 'soo busy'. It gets boring. We're all busy, she isn't the only person with a job. I don't know her circumstances but I know she does a lot of clubs etc. That she's busy with as she works part time.
But it's always very much 'I can meet you at 3pm at my house in 6 weeks' time, I'm not free till then'

Then i just have a small number of people who will be able to meet up if i suggest it, but would never contact me or invite me first.

I see my family a lot luckily and my partner. I work through agencies so across different workplaces which I know doesn't really lend itself to Building relationships.

I've started going to a weekly club and I hope I'll meet people there. I spend a lot of time alone which I do enjoy but just feel embarrassed sometimes.
I'm shy with new people but feel comfortable around those I've known for a while, it takes time for me to relax.

I know there are worse problems in life but it would just be nice to feel wanted sometimes, to feel like they really want to see you and appreciate you and that you aren't a last priority for them

I say to people "we should meet up soon!" (Actually meaning it) they reply, 'yeah that would be good' then i never hear from them again. I guess I'm too nervous to initiate it myself though

I hear you. I feel that I don't have enough friends either. I have one friend that I meet about once a month, and who I feel is always available for a text or phonecall. That's it. I met up with another friend last week, and we had a really lovely lunch together, then she said let's meet up again end of July! We live fairly close to each other and I would like to see her before then. I felt a bit like I was being put back in my box

Well done you for joining the weekly club. I need to do something similar I think

I feel your pain OP.

No real suggestions I'm afraid but just wanted to reassure you that you're not alone. I genuinely think many people are so overwhelmed with just keeping on top of family and work life that friendships and their maintenance become less important.

Hurts though!

I am one of these people. I have lots of friends (not a boast, I do appreciate I am lucky) but with a job, kids, medical appointments etc, I have time to catch up with maybe one a week. Put this on a rotational cycle of trying to catch up with everyone once in a while and it can easily be 12 weeks before I get back to the first person again. Doesn’t mean I don’t really like them, just that I physically don’t have the time to do it all. In the nicest possible way, it’s not your friends fault you don’t have many friends and if you feel resentful towards them, they will sense this and you will probably end up with one less.

Since lockdown, I think lots of people are generally less enthusiastic about going out and meeting people

I've seen other people with friends they can rely on and regularly meet up with, i didn't say it was their fault, but I do believe that people make time for what they want to.
It's not ok to expect somebody to always travel to you.

Your friend who wants you to travel to her house, could you invite her over for dinner at yours?

After years of being on mn this is percisely why I don't bother with friends, too many mners talking about friends being flaky, demanding, breaking up relationships, bragging, the list goes on.

I’ve got a few mates. 2 x couple mates who we see fairly regularly. 1 x couple friends who we see less regularly. 2 x friends who I see rarely but chat to on FB. I’ve tried to make two new friends recently by handing out my phone number to two people I thought I got on with and had said ‘we should meet up’ (they said it). Of course they never text me. It just feels embarrassing when people ghost you like that. Luckily I have a supportive DH, mum and son plus a few friends so it’s ok.