Do you have any real close personal friends 20 years younger or older than you? (female, family)

[Weekend Traveler]

The media is full of stories about people with tons of friends who are so different from each other. I hear stories of people who are friends with people half their age, twice their age, different races, Arabs and Jews, blue collar and white collar, one tall, another short, one obese another super thin, etc, etc.

Most people in the real world I live in have friends who are mostly a reflection of themselves. Same in almost every way. I am talking about real close personal friends, not just people you are friendly with.

How about you? (Yes, I am prepared for the number of people who say their friends are completely different than them, bla bla, bla!)

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

The media is full of stories about people with tons of friends who are so different from each other. I hear stories of people who are friends with people half their age, twice their age, different races, Arabs and Jews, blue collar and white collar, one tall, another short, one obese another super thin, etc, etc.

Most people in the real world I live in have friends who are mostly a reflection of themselves. Same in almost every way.

How about you? (Yes, I am prepared for the number of people who say their friends are completely different than them, bla bla, bla!)

My close friends ARE of different races and genders, and certainly some are obese. All very different!! But I think all if I'm not mistaken, are within that 40 year bracket.

[qjane82]

I have a few close friends who are 10-15 years younger and older than me, and I met most of them in a class setting. FWIW only one of them is of the opposite sex and he's gay. If anything the most common thread amongst my close friends is that we all have a middle class background (different race, industry etc.).

[J double R]

while i served in the Navy, at 19, my best friend (and fellow firefighter) was 38.

[pigeonhole]

Yeah, two people : my son who is 23 and a female cyberfriend who is 23 too!
(31 years age difference w me both of them)

[cpg35223]

Sure. Former clients, colleagues, and neighbors. We try to stay in touch with everybody.

[orangeapple]

Yes, I have friends much older than me (since I am in my 20s), but they are not friends in the same way my peers are. They are more like second moms, except no one could ever replace my mom. But I get along with people of all ages. I know a lot of older people through my church who I adore & are nice to spend time with. A lot of people my age dismiss older people & especially the elderly, but they're not all uptight or bland. Most I know are pretty hilarious, and are the ones egging you to have another drink, but they have that added insight that comes with age also. Again, they are sort of parent/grandparent figures for me.

[Hobokenkitchen]

One of my closest friends (she was one of my bridesmaids) is 10 years older than me. She's now in her early 40s and a porsche driving, champagne drinking grandmother!
Otherwise you're right. The majority of my friends are well educated, 30 somethings - most with no kids.

[plaidmom]

I am in my 40's and have close friends ranging from early 20's to late 60's.

Some are religious, most are not. A mix of conservative, liberal, and libertarian viewpoints.

Most are white, straight, and college-educated. Almost all are thin-to-slender, athletic non-smokers. I am open to meeting people from other sectors, but I live in a small town.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Aside from family I have no friends much younger than me.

However, I do have a few friends in their early 80's (I'm 52). Older people have lived more life and experienced more and lived in a much simpler time. I enjoy hearing about their times.