I don't have close friends as others do, a couple of partners I let get close to me, well, that didn't work well.
I have lot's of acquaintences, they may say friends, but I don't.

Just keep doing what you like doing but it's not easy anyway unless you get a dog.

This is just my rudimentary take on friends. Things change as we get older. It seems like things that bring people together regularly are helpful in forming attachments.
I've had "one off" offers of spending time together with my hairdresser, an office nurse etc but no one seems to follow through. (I'm guilty too tho)
After motherhood I lost a lot of my friends and became a 25/8 domestic creature.
FF years into home ownership and stumbling into "dog world", not realizing initially that community would become, pardon the pun, a dogsend to me after my husband's death.
The demographic is mostly female and older, many single, several in similar situations as myself. There are a couple that developed into close emotional relationships. We call or msg each other frequently providing much needed support.

So, maybe not dog world, but a community that is conducive to close knit relationships over time.

It’s never going to be the same. You had a unique history with your friend and that cannot be reproduced. I would continue to honor that friendship but don’t expect to match it. Looking forward you are a different person and I would be open to experience new friends wherever and however you can. There many opportunities big and small for connections that can become solid friendships. One just needs to be open to the possibility. That can be hard, but not impossible. I consider all face-to-face contacts as an opportunity. I think we are all looking for quality connections. Of course, you are here on this site. We seem to be a friendly, unique bunch.

Im in a similar situation because my lifelong friend and I had to part ways. I have to be in bed well before dark so I can't socialize to make new friends and have learned the hard way that being friends with co workers is a bad idea.

Have decided to volounteer. It may not make me any real friends but at least I will be doing something rewarding

I walk in the park a couple of times a week and I get used to seeing and recognising other regular, park users. You start by saying, "hi" and it blossoms from there.

Get out there & join some groups. Meetup.com
Other outings at the museums, the zoo, a quilting group, classes on a favorite subject, Athieist convention is coming up.etc. Start the search.

I understand. I too lost a good friend years back and am still at a loss as a result. Most of my friends are dead or are dead to me, or live so far away. I'd love someone I could chat to sometimes. But my attempts haven't worked. I don't think most people are looking to make friends later in life.

I was a born and raised introvert , and even my career encouraged that . Some seven or eight years ago , new neighbors moved in , and I made a connection . Now , they've sold their house , and the wife is pregnant , so , it looks like I'll be on my own again .

Need to find a women's group, Meetup.com has tons of groups.

My close friends don't have much time to talk with me. They work a full-time job and/or they have families to take care of. It's every now and then I get to talk to anyone. I'm on here more. I don't have a best friend either.

Your looking too hard for something that takes a long time to establish. Make more friends and go more places new and it will not be as annoying as you are making it.

Love you, try to be a better you and be your own best friend.
Compatible others will be inspired by it. The rest will take care of itself.

I totally understand. I'm sorry for your loss. It's harder to connect when you get older like us. I have no answers and not having that person to share the best friend stuff of life's ups and downs can feel lonely. You are not alone. ❤

You make a new friend, create a new bond. New rivers to cross... new bridges to build. Many here learned that we are losing friends faster we make new ones. Never feel alone, again.

I've recently had this conversation with others - making friends early in your career, for example, yields life long friendships (at least in my case). I have tried to make friends at "this age" with less results because everyone is busy with their own lives - and have been for decades. As an alone-person, with no family, I am fortunate that those long-term friends are still there. I have friends through my music, and if I asked, they would do anything. How do we define friendships, then, at this age! Maybe it's time to redefine the term. It's something I am working on as well - and very glad to have this site as part of my new friend redefinition.

I think your situation is not uncommon. I'm not lonely but I don't know if I'd know how to admit it if I was. I think you're tremendously courageous just to post this and put it out there. There must be millions of people who feel as you do and you only need to connect with one or two and you're going about it in an honest way. It takes work and it may never happen but I hope you find that special connection.

I wish I knew the answer. I have similar problems. I used to meet people and make friends through Theatre. Now that I'm a single mom of two kids and have a full time job, that stuff is out the window for a while. I don't know how adults meet new friends in a "normal" way.

I'm really sorry you have lost you're best friend. They are hard to come by, harder to lose. Do the things you normally do and you may get lucky again.

Try new experiences that welcome your involvement. Volunteer. Work at a food pantry. Do something with community theater.......The possibilities are there. Cultivate interests that will put you with other people. Then let yourself shine through.