[ionised]

This is so bizarre to me.

I'm 30 years old (also from Britain) and see my closest four or five friends on most weekends. These are friends I have had since the age of 12/13 years old.

I have a lot of 'mates' too that I don't consider as close as 'true friends', but frequently spend time with as well as a result of spending time with my close friends. Social circles overlapping with other circles.

I couldn't imagine not doing this. My life would be far less worth living without those few people I consider more or less my family.

Even if I'm not doing anything particularly special with them. It could just be a few hours in the afternoon of some old school co-op games on an emulator or something. Could be a few hours in the pub on Friday evening.

I am in a relationship but have no kids (never wanted any), so maybe that's the reason. Perhaps I just have the free time to maintain these relationships.

[johnward]

I'm 30 in the US. I haven't had any real friends, outside of my wife and family, since I was about 20. Even in high school I had friends but I never really saw them outside of school because I worked full time. I don't know how people have time for friends. I get up at 6am and go workout. Work until 6-7pm. If I'm traveling I go to my hotel and usually do some more work. Sometimes sit at the bar by myself so I have a reason to feel numb. If I'm home I take care of whatever house work I can, spend a few hours with my son, etc. Weekends are usually spent going grocery shopping, doing car maintenance, cutting grass, or other house repairs that I can't get to during the week. I had my own business on the side for awhile but I let that go.

I usually end up using my vacation from work to work done around the house because there just isn't enough freaking time.