I used to try reaching out to certain people every once in a while. This would typically result in several exchanges of emails or Facebook messages of ever increasing length to catch up, which would always invariably come to a sudden end when (I'm assuming) the length of the responses just became too long to maintain. Nothing like a five or six paragraph essay with no response to end a conversation.
For some reason, I always felt I
had to keep in touch with these people, but, the whole time I wrote those emails, I knew neither of us would make a plan to hang out; at best, we'd run into each other by chance at some point. So there was really no point. The few times I have tried to organize something, either it's been a one-off or the other party feigns interest and never commits to anything.
As I've aged, I've realized there are limited resources, such as time, to dedicate to people, and I barely get to dedicate the time needed for people I
really care about, so why waste this time on tier 2 and tier 3 friends? A couple months ago, I heard someone say something to the effect of it's ok for people to be in your life for just a particular period of time, even those you really connect with. Not everyone has to stay around forever. Not everyone
can stay around forever.
I suppose I also share the feeling of embarrassment when I talk to someone from, say, high school. When people ask what I do for a living, I can't even fake enthusiasm or interest in my own profession because it's so boring and ultimately meaningless.
All that said, my close friends already know who they are, and, up until recently, it has been rather effortless to stay in touch. Over the past three or four years, I'm finding it takes some deliberate action not to let six or eight months go by without talking or doing some activity.
Coincidentally, I came across this just before I read this post:
https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/10-types-odd-friendships-youre-probably-part.htmlNow I feel I've just rambled and not contributed to the thread. Maybe this is why people stop responding