Anecdote but I have had the same friends since I was 4. Like kindergarten friends. I have new friends as well but my kindergarten friends know me even better than I know myself. It's awesome every time we hang out. We basically laugh at everything. We learned to laugh with each other and literally created each other's sense of humor and social personality.

I honestly feel so lucky.

One of them moved 6 hours away but we talk and game every week on discord.

I'm from small town canada. People here are notoriously less ambitious than Americans or at least than big city Americans.

The one college friend of mine who moved to silicon valley I don't get along with anymore. He's just tuned to a higher frequency of activity and we can't share time effectively. It's like the SV lifestyle created ADHD in him. We can never just do nothing. We always have to be discussing something "important" or doing something "cool".

Sometimes I like to sit on my deck for an hour and let the thoughts creep by.

I used to feel envious of his wealth, power and prestige. But now that I have a wife and child and can see my distant future, I do not envy him.