I met my best friend when we were both 12 years old - we are still best friends today.

We served on the same PTO executive board for a couple of years.

I am sorry to say that I can't recall a friendship I'd characterize as "close" apart from my 2nd and 3rd marriages. I don't know if that says something about me, or about society, or both.

When my 2nd wife was dying she insisted that I go out for coffee most mornings in order to maintain my sanity as her sole caregiver. Some men would meet at the coffee shop I chose each morning, and their ringleader noticed I was sitting alone and asked me to join them. That was a kindness that was appreciated, and I was part of that group for several years after. After my wife's death, that group was ultimately my sole source of in-person human contact on a day to day basis. But I would not say any two of us were "close" as in emotionally supportive. But then, men generally don't know how to do "emotionally supportive". We talked about politics, current events, news, things like that. We provided each other with a sort of belonging. When my wife died, one of the men whose wife had died not long before cleared his throat uncomfortably and told me simply, "walk it off". It was actually the best and most practical advice I got. I walked like a madman for months.

So I guess it comes down to the definition of "close". When I moved away and remarried, none of those guys kept in touch, save the one who had originally invited me, who would email me once or twice a year. The last time I dropped by when I was in town on business, he seemed distracted and aloof. The group had kind of died a natural death anyway, a victim of people's shifting priorities, some disagreements, and the like. So ... there's a time and season for everything, I guess.

These days I play cards with several other old guys each Saturday. It's the same kind of deal, we don't talk about our innermost secrets but I coaxed a neighbor who just lost his wife to join us last Saturday and I think it provided a helpful distraction for him. I am doing my best to be a friend to him but he doesn't really know how to respond. So it goes with us men.

Through my hobby of playing pool.

Ball pit at McDonald's playground. Tuesday pancake night.

Occured at a Unitarian church in my area in the early 90s when we were both single and part of a social group for young adults.

For me my closest friendship occurred in the military where we ate, slept and worked together everyday. They became my ushers at my wedding and we stayed close until they all passed away.