In my opinion, there are many types of friends, but four types are the most prominent, and probably the most important:

1. Social network friends: Whether Facebook, LinkedIn or any other social networking website, these are the majority of people we interact with online. In FB, the interaction might entail glancing at their posted pictures, or “liking” something they post. But in the majority of cases, it is not people we either see in person or chat with via phone or texting, or even online.

2. Acquaintances: These are people we do see occasionally, and enjoy doing so, but if our circumstances change, these people generally drift out of our lives. When I was teaching, I was friendly with many people, both students and teachers. But now that I have been retired for over a year, I primarily stay in touch with two teachers (not counting my brother) regularly, and one of the students. The others were nice people, and I had assumed a few would stay friends, but instead they have drifted away, thus were acquaintances.

3. Friends: These are the people whom we go out of our way either to talk or visit with. It does not matter if contact is twice-weekly, or semi-annually. If we make an effort to contact these people on a regular basis, they are friends. Friends are not constant though; a person who is a steady friend for many years can drift away just like an acquaintance. What is important here is not necessarily the depth of the relationship, but rather its frequency.

4. Soul mates: Those are the people who are so important to you that you rarely go more than a few days without contacting each other. Conversation is not typically casual, as it is with other friends, but deeper and more intimate. Gradually you share your innermost feelings with this person. When you’re happy, you tell them, and vice-versa. When you’re upset, you discuss it with them, and vice-versa. You know each other almost as well as you and your spouse do, which can actually be a very good thing. Spouses often have different attitudes and do not really understand each other totally. The best friend is more similar to you in attitude and balances the spousal relationship, often making it stronger. The majority of people go through their entire life without ever having a friend this close, and few people ever have more than one in their lifetime. But those who do are fortunate indeed.