My family moved to a small town 8 years ago. It's been mostly great, but it's been hard to make friends as an adult.

Tech Insider : Business
A man sitting in bed looking out the window in the morning.
The author (not pictured) has found it difficult to make friends since moving to a small town.

Justin Paget/Getty Images

I became friends with a stranger on vacation. Despite living on separate continents, we're still close 5 years later.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Ash Jurberg smiling with man in front of rocks, water

Ash Jurberg

I forgot my headphones when I went to the gym. It led to a great conversation with a stranger.

Tech Insider : Business
The author at the gym with a barbell on her shoulders
The author found that forgetting her headphones when she went to the gym actually led to a good thing.

Courtesy of Mikala Jamison

I use AI every day, but I hide it from my friends. The benefits outweigh the uncertain future for me.

Tech Insider : Business
Adults hold their phone in their hands.

Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images

I was a young mom and thought mom friends were overrated. Then, I made one.

Tech Insider : Business
The author with her son as an infant at the beach.
The author was 26 when she had her son and didn't have any other mom friends at first.

Courtesy of Ashley Archambault

I'm 40, and one of my best friends is 97. He's changed my definition of success and gives me the best advice.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Melissa Noble and Bryan Hipwell celebrating his 97th birthday.
The author and her friend Bryan have a 57-year age gap.

Courtesy of Melissa Noble

I took my 50-year-old best friend to Disney. He was skeptical, but it was actually a great guys' trip for men our age.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The writer and his best friend on a ride at Disney Shanghai.
caption

Ash Jurberg

I loved the brotherhood of being a firefighter. Once I became a millionaire, I no longer felt like one of the crew.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
Jeremy Barker
Jeremy Barker is the founder and CEO of Murphy Door.

Niki Chan Wylie for BI

As a mother, I'm constantly surrounded by people, but I still feel lonely. I'm often too distracted to connect.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
The author poses with her family on a baseball field.
Though she's often surrounded by people, the author (pictured with her family) says she still experiences loneliness.

Courtesy of Nicole Schildt

After moving to Alabama for my husband's job, I was lonely. The key to making friends was being the one to make plans.

Tech Insider : Business
The author with four friends showing off watercolors they'd created in their watercolor club.
The author, right, hosts themed parties for friends, including a watercolor party.

Courtesy of Alyssa Hakanson

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