: Major events—like relocating for a job, getting married, or retiring—frequently disrupt the frequency of contact with established friends, often more so than with family members.
Research in evolutionary psychology (specifically Dunbar’s Number) suggests you have roughly five people you can truly count on in a crisis. These are the ones who know your childhood nickname, your secret fears, and the exact tone of voice you use when you’re lying about being “fine.” They are costly to maintain—requiring empathy, time, and vulnerability—but they are the buffer against existential dread. people you know to people you don't
