Do you tend to keep the same friends?

This definitely seems to be true! I noticed the same thing as we become friends with parents of our children's teammates and playmates, along with co-workers. As the kids change teams or activities, we find ourselves surrounded by different people. It is an issue as to where most of our time is spent and therefore the most commonality. I remember this from social psych in college--not a new concept.

I'm too old to break in new ones!!

"You Gotta Have Friends" so the song goes. For the most part--my friends have remained stable. There are the new ones that I have gained over the last three or four years through my kids school and work...and older ones that I have know for the last 40 years. What I have found recently--especially with the advent of social networking...those that I had in high school would probably not be in my circle because of differences in politcal or religious views. As we grow older, it's really mind-blowing how far apart we have become. The "stoner" is now a Conservative Republican, the striaght A Class President is now a Liberal. The atheist is now a Baptist and the daughter of the town's Presbertarain minister is a Buddist. I respect their changes in life...Lord knows I have changed since those days--my views on religion aren't what they were when I was 16 or even 36--my taste in music--politics etc. But like the Carol King song (sorry James)--"When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand...just call out my name and I'll be right there, You got a friend". Those are the golden ones.

The friends I feel are the deepest connection to are those from my high school and college days, going back over 30 - 40 years, the ones I have the most history with.

I change; my friends don't. So much for them. Its a lonely world.

I have really only one friend that I met in my junior year of high school. We went through similar circumstances (a bit rough) right out of school and have been very tight since! We have known each other for 23 years and have not lived near each other for the last 16 years but manage to still be "Best Friends". We have both come to find that for some reason no one else ever measures up to the level of trust we have for each other and care for the other's life! We have met different people............but it always comes right back down to "I like you best"!!

For 14 years I have attended cardiac rehab and a few of the original group are still around. We all go out twice a month for a breakfast together. Although I have joined a full exercise group within the last few weeks; I will still be meeting my close friends bi-weekly at our restaurant. We are all within the same age bracket and all the men are veterans which makes for a great comradery.

I have a few friends who I have remained close to for a few years, but for the most part I tend to move from group to group. I'm a little biased because I was recently part of a very large/close group of friends who pretty much decided to drop me like a hot potato for no reason, but whatevs.

A few years ago I received an emotional letter from a person that I grew up with (we were in each other's

weddings) and five years latter began to drift. I wrote her an email explaining what I thought happened and how I would like to get together to chat. my fiancee' tells his kids that you can always make new friends. I think the comments are right on about how children, your job, your moves change your circle of people around you. In today's fast-paced world it is really hard to keep more than one or two friends around you for the long haul.