Certainly I've had friendships with women over the years, though I'm much more inclined to socialize with (usually gay) men. My oldest friends from my 20s and 30s are women back in the UK. There are two in particular that I still frequently correspond and talk with. My definition of friend is someone I could call at 3am and know they'd be there for me, so that may limit those I'd list these days.
I have had male friends over the years, but few endure. Some died of course; others moved on. I do find with gay men I need to work harder to maintain a friendship particularly if we are geologically separated; with women it's easier somehow. The man who helped me come out (and taught me how to dress with style!) is still a frequent correspondent, though both of us have been through many jobs, various relationships, and have lived in different countries for much of our friendship.
Oddly, I find I make fewer friends now. You'd think being settled in one place for a long time would make it easier to build those relationships, but it seems to be that most people in their 50s have built their true, strong relationships, and now need more social acquaintances than new friends.
It is, as several people before have said, an interesting question.
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Date: 2010-11-06 09:50 pm (UTC)I have had male friends over the years, but few endure. Some died of course; others moved on. I do find with gay men I need to work harder to maintain a friendship particularly if we are geologically separated; with women it's easier somehow. The man who helped me come out (and taught me how to dress with style!) is still a frequent correspondent, though both of us have been through many jobs, various relationships, and have lived in different countries for much of our friendship.
Oddly, I find I make fewer friends now. You'd think being settled in one place for a long time would make it easier to build those relationships, but it seems to be that most people in their 50s have built their true, strong relationships, and now need more social acquaintances than new friends.
It is, as several people before have said, an interesting question.