Member-only story
How to Make Grown-up Friends 101
Got friends? Not many and would like to have more? Well, have I got a deal for you!! This article will be a relatively quick “crash course” in places where adults might find friendships. This includes those of you who are out of school, those with empty nests, retirees and others who don’t have access to a variety of “situational friends” to hang out and interact with. This is in response to a number of articles I’ve seen here on Medium recently in which the authors were wondering aloud, ‘how can I make friends as an adult?’ As someone who has decades of experience of making friends and being a friend I wish to pass along some of what I’ve learned along the way in hopes that other will have some luck in finding buddies/pals/’homies’.
Friends are great to have; some last a short period, such as a day/night, and other are long-term relationships that last and thrive for years. I’m not saying one or the other is better because there are merits to spontaneously meeting someone and having a great time talking and laughing for an afternoon or evening and then never seeing them again (and no, I’m NOT talking about a sexual hook-up, just a random friends-meeting). Though you might be sad to lose touch, you will have a wonderful memory of meeting someone who may have restored your faith in humanity. Because no matter how “ugly” the world appears at the moment — and it certainly does— there are…
