Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply new friends can’t ever be as good as old friends. I meant that when you meet a new person, they can’t compare to your old friends right when you’re first getting to know them. Maybe I should reword my post.

I use to live near the Philippines – Guam actually (on one of those old American bases you speak of). Great place (the Philippines). I’ve only been there once, but people ask me if I’m from there sometimes.

I don’t think the number of times you move matters – moves are painful no matter how many times you’ve done them before, at least in my experience.

I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and thanks for sharing your own experiences with moving!

I would say I’m more of a Corporate brat (though many people ask me if I was an ‘army brat’ when they hear I lived in the Philippines – old American base there). I’ve only lived in 5 different houses, and only moved 3 times, but it’s the same deal with being good at moving and adjusting to new locations and situations. It’s a combination of knowing when to let go, and never fully letting go.

One thing that I don’t fully agree with is the part about which friends are the strongest, although it must be very relative and personal. I do still have some rather strong ties to some old friends, and then there’s always some letting go – as people change – and as much as I wanted to have stayed in touch, things may have weakened on their side. My mid-range friends, say, 2000 (university) and onwards are strong now, and even some rather new – 1 year olds – are looking to be strong and useful. Even better than from highschool.

That being said, I recently travelled all the way to Budapest and Holland to visit old middleschool friends (1995ish). So there, you’re right.

Anyhoo. Love the post.