I've seen a lot of chat in this sub recently regarding having, gaining, and losing friends. I'm a 68-year-old man who has gone most of his life with no close friends, perhaps no friends at all, and the stream of consciousness on this subject leads me to think that friends are highly overrated. It seems to take a huge amount of energy finding friends, maintaining friendships, and dealing with the ups and downs of other people's lives.

Why do we really need friends - and I ask this with all sincerity? Do we simply think we need to have friends? I feel no lacking in my life for a lack of friends. Of course I have been a workaholic for a large part of my life. And I must say I have never felt all that interested in the lives of random people. Don't get me wrong. I care about people a great deal but no one is inviting me into their life, why should I invite others into mine? What is the benefit? I know you can't miss what you've never had and in my childhood I had many friends, one of which still loyally calls me from a distance on birthday and holidays. I must admit I don't make the same effort towards him.

I make this post in the hope of starting a discussion on the subject. Perhaps many will observe that I am maladapted or antisocial and maybe that's true. But what harm is it doing me? And more importantly, what good is it doing the rest of the world? I see a lot of grief over friendship. Not much in the way of rewards.

EDIT: Full disclosure - I am currently spending tremendous amounts of energy trying to find a woman to spend the rest of my life with.