The way i see it, I went from 2018 to 2021 with no real friends. Sure, I had an irl ttrpg group, but I felt more lonely around them than when I was actually alone.
I have friends around in other places, and where I live now, but things just are different in adulthood. On one hand, I can and do connect with some of these people occasionally. On the other hand, it’s not like my early life where every day I was around peers and hanging out with people. I’ve kind of adjusted to this and enjoy my solitude.
Going on 18 years now, don't really miss it. It's kind of freeing not having to worry about anyone else's problems and worries. I can keep myself.entertained.
I have never been without friends. There have been a few times when I didn't have any that were close by, but I kept in touch. There is one person who's been a close friend for 45 years now.
I have noticed that it's gotten much harder to find friends over the last few decades. Our society has changed in ways that make it harder to meet people and harder to get to know them. Online can be a good start but it's very difficult to progress from that.
Putting yourself in situations where you meet and interact with people, in person, definitely helps, but that's not easy for introverts like me.
So far? Since February 15, 2018. The dearest friend I’ve ever had died that day. Both of us 29. I always said if I had been straight I’d have married her. I feel like some part of me died with her.