Old friends are the best. They know you through so many stages of your life. I agree with PP that is better to have a small circle, than to try to "accumulate" - it looks like it is for appearances. I love it when my newer friends include me with their older friends. It reinforces all the great stuff I thought about them.

I have met a few different types in this area over the years, and some are faux snobs, which I have no interest in. When I meet someone down to earth, accomplished but humble, and outgoing, it makes me happy. There are not a lot of truly outgoing people in this area, OP.

If you have good friends, you pick up where you left off, no matter how often you chat or don't.