jaybe.
I have been thinking on this friends thing and having trouble with it because although I used to be shy I'm not anymore. And I must admit that this site is a good place to start. It is a good place to make cyber friends. Years ago I would not have considered using a chat room. Or Email pen pals. But they are good practice to see what draws people in and what chases them away. I find conversations in chat mirror conversations in life with one exception. People are more open in chat rooms. Unfortunately they lie, so my advice is that if you use a dating site to practice making friends do it for fun or with caution. I have carried friends from chat rooms to real life. I have close friends that now use the phone. I have met a few personally.
The other thing is that they become more family than family.
A few things not to do when making friends. Don't dominate the conversation. Don't brag. Don't fake it. If you don't understand something ask. Be prepared to listen, but don't be a doormat. Don't pick a topic no one else can share. and above all else just be you.
The other thing is that till people get to know you and care for you they will not want to know your troubles.
One warning: do not give out your phone number or Email address till you know some one well and at that it is best to use a separate address just for Cyber friends.
Just reading your post, I do not see anything that would chase me away. I see an interesting person worth talking to.
Now for real life experiences. You read! In my area there is a reading club at the library, they also need people on the board. Hospitals (in small towns anyway) need people to read to patients. Don't forget friends can be any age and any sex. And they can be married. Some of my best friends are married. We know the rules.
Don't forget the "say hi" thread. You could tell us about your family or your twins.
Aren't all families disfunctional, mine is. So are some of my wacky friends.
Oh and volunteering is a good way to meet people.
Now how about everyone else here? What do you look for in a friend?
I'll start: Humour (but not bad jokes) honesty, a good listener, a good talker, Some one who is not a chronic complainer. Some one knowledgeable on there subject. Some one who knows something I don't and is willing to share it. Some one concerned.
Davit.
