Beyond Selidor

You're so right that it's really hard to make friends as an adult if you don't have kids. Most of my friends made in adulthood are people I met when were at university together — I think it's just easier when you have so many shared experiences to build on, and you're artificially thrown together for many hours each day (and often living together as well).

I also agree with you that it's hard when everyone's schedules are so incompatible. I know people this year who've had much more vigorous social lives than ever, because moving everything online meant far fewer problems with conflicting schedules (so they were having dinner or cocktail parties via Zoom, or playing boardgames online and stuff like that). For me that would be exhausting, and my social life has really tailed off — I've barely seen anyone other than my husband since February!

I think in the end, it's largely about making friends who are willing to make the time, and vice versa.

This is definitely true. (And regarding the 'found family' thing: I'm an immigrant, and most of my friends here are also immigrants. We sort of became each other's family by necessity, as our biological families are all very far away.)