So far in my life I have lived in many different locations. Richmond, Manchester, Newcastle, London, Texas, and I have lived the touring band life, moving from one city to the next weekly for a year. I'm a very social person, and over my life I have made close friends in each different place I have stayed, but it is amazing how few friendships have been maintained once distance is established and we live in different places in the country or world.
There have been moments after moving to a new area when I've stopped and counted the close friends I've stayed in touch with and who have stayed in touch with me, and usually can count them on zero fingers. Throughout my whole life there have been maybe two or three friends who have stayed in touch since I moved away from their area, but thats it - apart from my family.
My family has that unique bond where we always stay in touch, we always make the effort, and always make it important to stay on good terms no matter where in the world we may be living at that time. This is true of no-one else in my life. I suppose that is why family is such an important and securing thing. Although growing up, our relationships were often strained and turbulent, as me and my brother have grown into adulthood, we have become best friends, and me and my parents remain close as ever.
I don't know how many more years I will live here, but I won't be surprised if when I move on I lose touch with everyone once again, except my family. Im realizing that right now this is just reality - wherever I live I will make friends, but probably none ever as close as my family. The few friends I have who have maintained friendship with me and vice versa are very precious to me, and very rare. I'm also realizing that the most loyal friendships deserve to be priorities to me above the others. I need to invest in my relationship with my wife, family, and most loyal friends first and foremost, and those others which I know will fizzle out to nothing after I move somewhere new must take backseat. They are still important, because who knows, one of them could develop into a great friendship, but not as important as family.
