For many people their partner is their best friend. As a rule it is just the one partner. There is much benefit in being monogamous. Polygamy or frequent chang

For many people their partner is their best friend. As a rule it is just the one partner. There is much benefit in being monogamous. Polygamy or frequent changes to whom the partner is comes at quite a cost in time and effort. Similarly with friendships, there is a cost to having 'hundreds of close friends' (as if such a thing could happen). There is also a cost in trying to push one's 'friends quota' beyond what we have (5-6 close friends) to a wider circle of not-so-close friends. Yet some people - those with 500 Facebook friends - think that having more than the small circle of close friends is a desirable thing, which it may be but only in the way that having a harem of partners is a desirable thing. There is also the matter of being part of a community. We all need to belong. Yet too many people hop in their car, drive out their driveway and never say hi to the neighbours. Superficial neighbourhood friendships are fine. The guy who you say hello to whilst you are walking the dog is okay to say hello to even if he votes differently to you. That superficial chat about the weather is okay. Recently had a funeral to attend, of a neighbour. Although this was a well attended service I was quite surprised at how some people chose not to go to the wake. Those dog-walking saying-hellos do actually matter, this was what made the funeral mandatory for me but meh for those that did not care to go. By actively going to a church group or dance class I didn't really have my heart into I think the resultant relationships would be as fake as my belief in god/dancing in silly shoes. Your friend might think he/she has success but there may be others in the group who think that he/she is a sad letch rather than someone passionate about what they are doing. Joining a dance class to shed a few pounds (rather than to get laid) is legit though.