Making friends

mkopec

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You come to realize later in life what you thought were some your close friends were basically acquaintances you hang out and drank with. I realized this when I went through my 20s into my 30s and stopped the drinking. Nothing in common other than the drinking and partying part. In fact looking back, some of them I didnt really even like that much. They were just there to carry on with. I still drink from time to time, but nothing like I did in my 20s, lol.
 
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Cutlery

Kill All the White People
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You come to realize later in life what you thought were some your close friends were basically acquaintances you hang out and drank with. I realized this when I went through my 20s into my 30s and stopped the drinking. Nothing in common other than the drinking and partying part. In fact looking back, some of them I didnt really even like that much. They were just there to carry on with. I still drink from time to time, but nothing like I did in my 20s, lol.

Or, more applicable to this board, people who you played video games with.

I had a dude I gamed with from 19 to 39. Played EQ, WoW, thousands of hours in Borderlands, Left 4 Dead, Payday, etc. When I got divorced, I realized we didn't really have anything in common other than that. When I stopped gaming every day because I was working my ass off, there wasn't any reason for the relationship to exist. He unfriended me on every platform and it turns out nothing changed in my life after he did.
 
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Mahes

Bronze Baronet of the Realm
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OK. First I'll say I'm 55. When I met @Mrs. Haus I was in my 30's and the center of a social circle which had me throwing parties every other weekend. But I got tired of needing to steam clean my entire house once I was a home owner and not a renter. Amazing how that pared down the herd. In my 50's. I can say I think I honestly have one or two real friends. One I met through work and we've become like siblings over the years. The other I met through a pre-internet online chat community and he was the best man at my wedding.

As you age you'll find if you're like most of us, you might have acquaintances, but fewer and fewer real friends as you age.

I have 2 friends, and maybe an additional 10 acquaintances through things like my fantasy football league I'm in and a few old high school buddies I keep up with on social media.

But the easy answer to find some people with a common interest, Just figure out what locale you're in and if there are some others from here around you. Then offer to buy them a drink if they can tell you a story about Foler doing something stupid. That should lock in at least a few folks. Also, if more than 3 show up you can play the time honored "meeting people I know online" game called... Spot the fed!
Just saw this topic.

You just described my life in almost every detail. Our ages even match. I met my wife in my early 30's.

I have 1 friend. We played Magic together and then I got a job with the local government. He also worked for the government and so we could discuss inner politics around that subject. I think having things in common is about the only way to make friends. As we get older, we take in more responsibility with family and tend to lose the original dynamic that kept the friendship.

I have a full time job and then take care of my house and my daughter(Autistic). Time going out is not something I have in abundance. I will occasionally have lunch with my friend or go see a movie.

In the end, my wife is my best friend.
 
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