I Have Few Friends

I have few friends.

I don't go out for drinks with colleagues from work, my interactions with neighbors are moderate, and I don't have anyone I would call a "dad friend." The people I can call friends (including those I just unilaterally consider to be friends) number only a few.

The other day, I went out for drinks with one of those few friends.
Since he is someone who flies all over Japan, it is quite a rare opportunity.

I think we met about 12 or 13 years ago.
At the time, I was writing an irregular column for a certain information-based website. I remember meeting him through the editor-in-chief of that website. However, we only started drinking together in the last few years.

The content of our conversations inevitably ends up being about work.
Starting with updates on our recent situations, the conversation expands to things we are planning to work on. We supplement each other's ideas that come to mind on the spot, exchanging comments like "That might be good" or "In that case, let me introduce you to Mr./Ms. So-and-so." I received some very useful information this time as well.

It's not just him, but...
Many of my friends are avid readers.
And many of them are always trying to challenge themselves with new things.

After all, I don't find conversations engaging with people who only talk based on knowledge and experience accumulated in the past, or (to put it maliciously) people who try to assert dominance based on past glories. I suppose I like people who are currently, in the present tense, accumulating new knowledge and experience and continuing to change.

I believe that it is precisely because we feel sympathy for such people (mutually) that we can respect each other as friends and maintain a long-lasting relationship.