The company of a few good friends, my choice

As time goes by, I blow out an increasing number of candles on the birthday cake, I write in the phone book more and more names of acquaintances that I meet in the society in which I move or in the work that I do.

And I ask God to give my friends a long and healthy life.

Although anyone who meets me would say that I am friendly and make friends easily, they would be wrong.
I am a sociable person and I manage well in society (although when there is a big group, I try not to stand out, because I don't like to be the center of attention), but I consider those people I meet to be my acquaintances, not my friends.
For real friendship with someone, I need years and a lot of shared moments in beautiful, ugly, happy or sad situations...

My acquaintance today can be anyone. A neighbor in the building, a saleswoman in a bakery, a bus driver who takes me to work every morning, that colleague with whom I crossed the line of collegiality and went privately to lunch or for a drink, or a company with whom we agreed to go on a trip or visit a city...
Friendship can probably be born from those acquaintances, but such a thing is very rare, and in my case, such a thing takes a lot of time.

I am of the opinion that, when we are adults, we are guided by common interests and the "friendship" that arises in adulthood cannot be compared to the friendship that was made in the earliest youth.

I have already written about my 4 friends from elementary school. I have known them for almost 45 years.
Together we went through all the challenges in our youth. Problems at school, children's mischief and fights, love problems, and later illnesses and deaths of our loved ones, joy and celebration of children's birthdays (who has children).
Not a single one of the five of us was ever jealous of any of us, he was always ready to help, to get out of bed in the middle of the night and if necessary, cross half the country to help.
They say money and women sometimes destroy friendship.
Ours is not. Not because we didn't or did have it (money) and because our wives and partners are wonderful people, but because we didn't allow it.
Helped each other whenever needed and we are here, as the text of the marriage vow says "for better or for worse, until death do us part" 🙂.

With any acquaintance, I would hardly be able to have such a relationship.
In general, with everyone I meet, I remain in a good relationship and share those details from my life, which at no time can threaten, hurt or cause me any harm.
You assume that I can share those details with these four friends, because I know that they will not be used against me at any time.

Don't be fooled by this photo.
There are only three of us on it.
Because we know that there is no jealousy, we can meet as and when it suits, the one who was prevented from coming this time, someone else will come... No one was ever offended if he did not attend a gathering.
It's like that when a friendship lasts for decades, if something is missed once, there will be another chance...

Sometimes it's hard to fit all of our commitments together, so we use every opportunity to see everyone who can. Sometimes it's only two, sometimes three or four. And it's really the most beautiful when all five of us get together.
Great topics this Friday in #weekend-engagement related to friendships, prompted me to ask them today, if they are in the mood to see each other next week, also on Friday.
Three of the four told me "Tell me the place and time", and one said that he was prevented because he had injured his leg.

We will visit him at home and take a basket of fruit with wishes for a speedy recovery.

A few close friends or many acquaintances?
I vote for the five of us (or four or three or even two) 🙂