Having just turned 31 recently, this read hits hard with my own experiences. From time to time I worry I'll end up languishing in old age due to loneliness without a network of supportive friends.

Some seem to reiterate the importance of time investment into the search for new friends. I agree with this. The more you put yourself out there, the odds would hopefully be more in your favour. However, the guarantee of the outcome isn't there. One could spend hours, days, months joining various hobby and interest groups with such an agenda and still end up with nothing.

It's almost like after a certain age, new friendships become more incentivised. The friendship itself only exists because it can be rationalised with mutual benefits.