what type of friends do you have?

I have been thinking lately about the types of friends we acquire and keep as we get older. it is clear that there are several different types of friends and that we all fall into at least one category. it is also clear that we all have preferences in our friendships and those preferences shape who we are and who we become.

Years ago I read a book about life and friendship. It was Succulent Wild Woman, by SARK; a great book on how to live life fully, wildly, happily and with no real regrets. In this book, the author said we should all have nine friends: three older than us as mentors to us, three younger than us to look up to us and for us to mentor and three our own age to grow older with, together. I like that and have tried to do that. So far, I have not succeeded at the perfect nine however, i do know at least one woman who has at least three of each of these types of friends. so it can be done.

Just the other day, however, I read an article that said we all need at least five friends: an older/mentor friend who has been where you are, a younger/mentee friend who is like a younger sister, an “old” friend who has known you forever and knows all about you and your family, a “deep” friend who is full of wisdom and sagacity and willing to share, and an “unexpected” friend who is full of surprises, can pull you out of the doldrums and make you laugh when you least expect it.

now this set of friends i do have. 

Now, if you combine the second theory with the first, you get at least one older friend (mentor), one younger friend (mentee), one friend your age (old friend) and at least two more friends to play around with (deep and unexpected). that's bad if you agree with these theories and are willing to try to have the friends they suggest. But, I have to tell you … one or two true friend is really all you need; especially if that is all you have, whether by choice or by circumstance. 

what is the bottom line...i think we have the friends we want as well as need in our lives. it doesn't really matter what type they are so long as you share a relationship of love, trust, support and fun. at the end of the day, someone you can share who you truly are with is the best type of friend anyone can have.