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What is the age range of your friends ?

(64 Posts)
NanKate Fri 01-Nov-19 07:27:45

I have always seemed to be the youngest within my different friend groups such as WI, friends from my teens etc. However with friends I have made in the last year or so I appear to be the oldest.

With friends I have made on GN I am the oldest at 73.

In our cul de sac we are by far the oldest and I suppose we are thought of as the oldies. They are always coming to ask DH for advice or for us to take in their parcels. We have lived here over 40+ years.

What is the age range with your friends or acquaintances?

schnackie Fri 01-Nov-19 10:36:34

I meet people on my travels, and sometimes we just 'click' and remain friends, meeting up a few times a year etc. The youngest is 23 and the oldest is 95. I am 67. My local friends are all about my age.

Anthea1948 Fri 01-Nov-19 10:38:16

Of my closest friends, one is 13 years younger and one 12 years older, but the majority of my friends tend to be within a year or two of my own age (71). I live on a retirement complex where people are all over 50 and I think I fall around the middle of the age group here.

Christine848 Fri 01-Nov-19 10:57:26

At 71, I am blessed to have some wonderful friends...the eldest is 80 and the youngest is 26, and all ages in between! ??

jenpax Fri 01-Nov-19 11:14:17

I am mid 50’s and my friends range from 30’s to 80’s

maryhoffman37 Fri 01-Nov-19 11:17:20

Almost all my closest friends are 14-16 years younger than me. There is one seven years older. And my two university friends are, of course, contemporaries. I see them several times a year to go to an exhibition and lunch.

Jillybird Fri 01-Nov-19 11:18:31

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Fri 01-Nov-19 11:26:16

My age range seems to be around ten years either way. I think we have more in common with our own age group of course due to similar life stages but can hopefully offer advice to the younger ones if it's wanted.

Coolgran65 Fri 01-Nov-19 11:40:32

I am 70, long standing close friends range from 60 - 85. I have other accquaintances/friends but not in the close friends category who would be younger.
I'm in the middle of my close friends age range.
Most of my close friends have come from my employment days, are of at least 20 - 23 years' standing, and are still great friends even though I've been retired 11 years. We meet up regularly, one friend at least weekly, text/whatsapp often.
At short notice (30 minutes) we can head to the movies, go for a walk, or be a needy shoulder. My dh knows all of my friends, a few better than others.
Two of them I could without doubt ring at 3am if I had a problem, which says a lot.

cupcake1 Fri 01-Nov-19 11:53:53

My best friend is 56 - 12 years younger than me and another very close friend is 75 both I met through work and I don’t feel the age gap at all with either.

Grandma70s Fri 01-Nov-19 11:54:31

My three closest friends are roughly my age or a bit younger, 74 to 80 (I’m nearly 80). My sons (mid-to-late 40s) are
obviously my friends, also my elder son’s housemate, who is 43. I wouldn’t call my DIL a friend. She's not an enemy, but we aren’t close. My sister-in-law is a very good friend, and she’s twelve years younger than me.

It all depends what you mean by friends. I mean people I can really talk to, including about personal things.

madmarchram Fri 01-Nov-19 12:22:10

I know this gets said so many times, but I dont actually have any friends or even people that I chat to casually other than my husband and (adult) children. I rarely leave the house so other than the people mentioned and the supermarket delivery man, I tend to talk to no one at all in the length of the week - so should anyone ever fancy a chat to a not very confident 52 years old, feel free to message me smile x

Aepgirl Fri 01-Nov-19 12:30:15

My friends are mostly in the same age-Group as myself - give or take 5 years, and we’ve been friends for many years.

bluebirdwsm Fri 01-Nov-19 12:50:05

Eldest friend is 76, another my age [70] and my closest friend is 40.
I find the ones closer to my age compare themselves and their lives to mine...and it is tiresome sometimes. I enjoy talking to them though, knowing all about our pasts and the lives we have had.

The 40 year old is one I met online and who now lives a walk away from me. We have been friends for nearly 20 years now.

There have been issues because of the age difference [now sorted out] but she is caring and very interesting to talk to and we do a lot together. I love hearing about her other friends and her life/job/ambitions etc.

I think friendship is about sharing the same or similar values, the same moral compass, empathy, outlook, sense of humour and love and appreciation of basic things and some shared interests. That can include all ages.

I like to think I'm a friend of one of my grandsons in particular as we have similar personalities and struggles. He is a great boy who is just 12. Talking to him is often fascinating.

Grammaretto Fri 01-Nov-19 12:59:35

I really don't often think about ages. I usually make friends with folk who share interests and views on life whatever their age.
I'm in an older yoga group now because I couldn't keep up so that was a bruise to my ego!!
I have people in their 20s and 80s who I would call friends.
I am 71.
My in-laws are mid 90s so they definitely keep us going young.
Then the 7 wonderful DGC who range from babies to teens.

Nanny41 Fri 01-Nov-19 13:18:28

When we moved here six yearsago, we were informed by a neighbour (who looks up everything) that we were the oldest in our little community, charming! This remains the same, my friends have all age ranges, but generally these days I am the oldest, at 78 I dont expect that will change, but it keeps me young having younger friends,and doesnt worry me.

Nanny41 Fri 01-Nov-19 13:28:23

I have an on line friend through GN we write most days, and have a very nice confidential friendship, which I appreciate,I am older but it doesnt matter at all. Age makes no difference.

Musicgirl Fri 01-Nov-19 15:15:35

I'm mid fifties and my friends range from their thirties to their eighties. I think this is healthy.

Riverwalk Fri 01-Nov-19 16:28:35

My closest friends are around my age, 65, as we met at the school gates in the mid-80s. Other friends who I socialise with regularly are nursing colleagues, book club, bridge, and they range from 40-60s.

SalsaQueen Fri 01-Nov-19 17:00:13

I'm 60, still working (part-time). My youngest friend is 38, married with a 6-year-old. She frequently asks my advice about health, kids, etc. My oldest friend is 62.

Bijou Fri 01-Nov-19 17:19:57

My friends were all older than me as a result I have out lived them all!

Newquay Fri 01-Nov-19 17:22:27

My many friends vary in ages but have a lot round my age (70) who share my interests.
I know someone in her 60s who has NO friends at all-can’t understand it myself! It takes effort though to make and keep friends doesn’t it?

HannahLoisLuke Fri 01-Nov-19 17:35:36

Between 27 and 82. Love them all.

HannahLoisLuke Fri 01-Nov-19 17:36:02

And both sexes.

TrendyNannie6 Fri 01-Nov-19 17:48:46

I am in my early sixties n have friends from 40,s 50., 62.66

AllotmentLil Fri 01-Nov-19 22:24:01

I’m 65 and without thinking about it would have said that all my friends are around my age. But having thought about it they’re nearly all older, a few in their 80s. There are also a few in their 50s. It’s great and I just feel so lucky to have them. Thankyou for starting this thread NanKate.