LibraryScenariosWhen retirement reveals that work friendships weren't real friendships
Scenario

When retirement reveals that work friendships weren't real friendships

I am retired and all my friendships were work-based and now that I do not see those people every day I realize we were colleagues pretending to be friends.

Rabia
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

Proximity and shared obligation can masquerade as genuine affection until the structure is removed.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Making friends as an adult — the difficulty?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.