What is your circle of friends like?

Question

What is your circle of friends like?

Do you have ways of keeping people out of your circle of friends?

Do you have ways of bringing people into your circle of friends?

What other thoughts, findings or testimonials would you like to share on this?

Thanks for all the helpful response. I see some really interesting answers here. It was a tough decision to make. I had to give the award to the most ideal beginnings. I have a fondness for the knitting thing, but didn't completely understand the details.

Read Bhagavad Gita As It Is
http://www.asitis.com
http://www.vedabase.net/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vegetariancounseling

Higher Taste: Online Vegetarian Cookbook!
http://www.webcom.com/ara/col/books/VEG/ht/

DHARMA Investment Club: beginners in the area of financial management
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dharmainvestments/

Answer 1

My circle of friends: I'm the leader, my best friend is the worried wart, and the others are opposite. Smart,funny,shy, and were expierienced. Well most of us. No we have no way of keeping people out. We just introduce new friends to our group. We are the nicest people in the school were not superficial and we don't judge people.

Answer 2

I have one main circle of friends and another one that overlaps the main one a bit and a faded circle from the past.

The main one started as mostly guys in high school. We are all 'farm kids' from 'foreign' parents... so that is our common thread.
I admire most of my guy friends... they are all very intelligent, well-rounded individuals with a fantastic sense of humour... we always had fun & laughs together. They are all very kind, thoughtful, polite, caring & affectionate friends.
As time progressed the dynamic of the group changed too. Nearly everyone is married now. When there is time to get-together as a group it is still fun.

Keeping people out?
Not exactly. If someone came in and they couldn't understand us or like the same movies or food...let's just say their visit was short. Or, if the person didn't fit in...like have a drinking issue or did drugs or was abusive to any one in the group they wouldn't be invited to any 'gatherings'. The person who brought the offender in would be asked what's wrong with them? (All in a friendly, concerned fashion)

Bringing people in?
Only through the many relationships we have all had or friends from work or school. These new people would be welcomed in but again... if they didn't 'get' us or liked what we did or where we went or what we ate...they'd be gone after a while.

Having similar backgrounds and family dynamics really helps glue a group together. The longer a group stays together the deeper the affection and mutual respect. Honesty becomes easier too. It's amazing to know through rough times and good times these guys will be here with their full support. They are a treasure to me.

For me the biggest adjustment has been all the wives... I'm not jealous it's just it's hard to know sometimes how to speak with them without offending them... guys are more straighforward.
My husband started out being one of my friends, then best friend and now my love....and best friend. (huge smile)

I know I'm fortunate to have these friends and I let them know how much I love them whenever I see them... they are good, kind souls....most of them. ;-)

I guess that's all I have to say right now.
Have a great day.

Answer 3

Perhaps circle isn't the best word... but then, I don't know what is!
Most of us are involved somehow in Renn faires and/or we chainmaille in our spare time. On the one side (male side, I guess), we love history and making stuff because we can, on the other side we infuse as much good cheer as can be healthily fit. From foofy scarves to ping-pong tournaments to heated book debates...
Yeah, I guess we're nerds, but oh well.
I've only noticed one instance of "keeping people out", but he was essentially very creepy and clingy. After being dumped by lady 1, he tried to pass himself off onto lady 2 of the group. From what I could tell, he didn't really read or take delight in mythology. He tried mailleing to fit in but it was entirely fake and he may have gotten bored with us. Ah well.
The initiation process? Well, there's an alpha female which trumps the alpha male. If she gives the go-ahead, everyone else more or less has to at least give you a chance, and since we're pretty open-minded (or try to be), you may stick.
Uhm... that's about it.

Answer 4

My circle of friends knits.

We help each other solve knitting problems, life problems, and just generally have fun.

It's easy to leave the group--just disagree on something stupid like the best way to cast on or make increases, for example.

It's easy to bring someone in, too. Just teach her/him how to knit!

Answer 5

Usually Circles are like ceros like this: 0

And a circle of frinds is round : O

See.

Answer 6

WE ALL ARE BASICALLY "IN" WITH THE SAME FOUNDATIONS- WE RAISE OUR KINDS ALMOST EXACTLY- WE HAVE SIMILAR RELATIONS WITH OUR SPOUSES, WE VARY IN FINANCIAL STATUS FROM RICH TO POOR-BUT NO ONE REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT-WE LAUGH AT THE SAME IRONIC THINGS AND CAN CRY IF ANOTHER OF US STARTS TO- WE IN THE END ALL BLEED RED WHEN WE'RE CUT- AND WE HELP EACH OTHER OUT. WE LIVE OUR LIVES WITH OUR FRIENDS-AND HOPE THEY ENJOY IT AS MUCH IN IT, AS WE DO, HAVING HTEM AROUND. WE WELCOME ANYONE WHO'S REAL IN WITH US- BUT IF WE FIND YOU A PHONY- WE'LL CALL YOU ON IT AND GIVE YOU LITTLE OR NO CHANCE AFTER THAT.

Answer 7

i think we don't keep people out. i really like them, i think they treat me better than any of my previous friends have, and i feel lucky to be friends with them.

Answer 8

It's like a triangle...really :(