One that I actually spend time with and maybe two more... I have a LOT of people I'm friendly with but ... I'm not sharing my personal business with em.
Still friends with most of the people I knew in high school, and a handful from past jobs.
I would say that virtually all of my friends are folks who I had gotten to know online first. Not from social media as I don't do that but online communities like this one. Some of my besties and favorite humans I've met from here actually.
I don't have friends from my childhood other than like 2 folks who have lives that are vastly different than mine and we text a little bit now and then but not actually seen each other in years. Most of my childhood friends I had to distance myself from in order to stay sober and crime free, or they just weren't friends to begin with. Or we grew apart due to time and life changes.
As per one definition of "social media" - "websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking." @pmvines I would say CC qualifies as social media.
@Immersedwarmth
I consider cc to be more of a community though, like a niche of like minded people for a specific purpose or activity. Not like Facebook or Instagram or Twitter, where your whole life is out there for all to see and is not based around a specific thing. I do try to keep my digital footprint to a minimum. What I view as typical social media just hasn't ever appealed to me seems like too much work.
I know a ton of people, I serve a lot of people. I imagine a lot of people probably consider me a close friend, which is flattering, but it’s not the truth. The older I’ve gotten and experienced more of life and made more mistakes and done things that have hurt people and tho my I’m ashamed of, I’ve kept backing away from people and don’t let people get really close. So many people believe a version of that inspires and encourages and uplifts them. And that’s wonderful and hopeful a real positive to them and the world, but I no longer can let anyone truly in because the truth would reveal a normal, very flawed person, nothing like what people have looked to for strength and help. So I have become increasingly private even to my closest of friends who I used to share everything with. Kinda sad to admit, but much easier to do here. I can predict the feedback, but little understanding to how quick everyone is to judge and write off someone. The grace, space, love, forgiveness that I freely share with everyone in my sphere of influence would not be shown back to me. Whether those known by me or not. So it’s best to limp along and hope my counselor is enough in the end.
I grew up in a large family--- never had to go "make friends" because we had each other!! lol As an adult, I've got plenty of friendly acquaintances, people whom I love, but very few "friends."
I'd claim 3, depending on the specific definition..
Who I choose to share my time with is “my people” - whether family, my kiddos, friend or customer/ co- worker current or former. It’s not necessarily about how I classify them. It’s more like whose energy do I want to be around?? I’m so blessed to have amazing people in my world that it’s more so quality over quantity-
I will also add that I know hundreds of people because of work ……..so the people that can say they know me, relate to me are oh so in abundance!! Yet at the end of the day - I have my core, no fluff needed
Oh c'mon. I have a few . You know that.
Not nearly enough anymore.
Probably three or four, but the core group is 2. I have high expectations for what I would consider a friend, and that’s not to speak ill of all of my acquaintances that I’m very fond of. People around my age often lament the fact that their friend group is small. I think a true friendship requires a little bit of active maintenance, so I’m fine with a small group. That’s just me though.
@JLM I agree with your perspective on active maintenance. The absence of maintenance means they are friendly acquaintances without the bond of love and concern for them on a daily basis. Kind of why I never understood collecting social media “friends”. I want the right friends not the most friends.
I have 2 maybe 3 people that are friends, then a handful of acquaintances I enjoy hanging around.
@TheFunCartel Agreed
I need more friends who realize I still want to be invited but I am not going.
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I’m my own best friend.
I think of my friends as organized in concentric rings. My closest ring of three friends knows all my business, the next closest ring knows a lot of my business, but we're mostly hanging around to laugh and have a good time.
I have a big family and we hang out all the time but we stay out of each other's business.
I have had to tell male coworkers, that I may be friendly, but I'm not your friend.
I have one very close friend/neighbor who I interact with a lot. Other friends are more activity-dependent. I also do community theater and every production creates a friendship group that lasts 2-3 months. I’m an introvert, so 2-3 social interactions is plenty for me. I have have had friendships end through death or political differences or relocation. With the last, we may not speak for months or even years but have a great connection when we see each other. My friends were typically 9-15 years older — I was just a bit too young to be an actual hippie but always felt like those were my people. Sadly, they’re dying off, and I realize I need to be open to connecting with younger folk. I look younger than I am so have slowly realized they assume I am a peer, where I tend to feel motherly towards them.
1 just my wife
None
4 Old Friends 1 New Friend I Met on CC (you know who you are) 3 Demoted Friends (In other words we used to be close but not so much these days, yet they're still around)