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[quote=Anonymous]NP here, 52.  I had two very good friends who I saw about once a week each, usually for a hike.

I had moved to DC temporarily--we all knew it was going to only be two years...and when I moved back, the friend I felt the closest to had replaced me. We used to talk about all things kids and husbands and philosophy and everything, every Tuesday morning, but she found someone else who was in better shape AND a psychologist to boot, so I can see why she's locked in to that friend.

It took a while for me to realize that all her friend needs were met, and she was so busy, that really, there was no room for me.  She would offer dates then cancel.  Anyways that strung me out for a while, and during that time, I was very lonely.  It was because I kept thinking we'd be getting together and then I'd feel a little abandoned when she'd cancel.

My other good friend had joined a club and got into the tennis scene--she was always very good, but she really got into it and plays every day now.  So, no time for hiking.

So, OP and PPs, here is something I've done that really has helped me.  I stopped looking for friends that were fellow-mom friends.  I now have one friend who still lives in DC and is 30 years younger than me but we talk all the time, I'm friends with my DDs art teacher, I volunteer somewhere and my boss is this fabulous handsome gay guy and I adore him, a nice designer lady ten years older than me came to help me with my closet and now we meet for coffee...I'm working on developing a friendship with a woman I met on a blog who lives cross-town, and I know someone from a family camp who comes into my town periodically to get her hair dyed, and we are now meeting up.  I go to this massage therapist and we discuss our kids etc. while she works on my back.

The truth is, I'd give them up for someone who really "gets" me and is in a similar life situation, and who could be there maybe once a week for a hike or coffee, but that's not my life now.  These people are my bridge, and one of them might become someone who really "gets" me.  But I will take kind people where I find them, and it's ok if they are not my demographic or if the relationship is tinged with business.  For instance, the massage therapist will never do something outside of her work with me--she's way too busy and any free time will be for her kids, but the art teacher has gone hiking with me, and the designer to lunch and coffee.   I'm ok with whatever level friend they want to be.

I am actually rather shy and always have had just a few deep friendships.  This has been an interesting development for me. (These friends are still one-on-one; I guess I'll never be the type with a group of friends.)   [/quote]

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