*nods* As I alluded to in the entry, I am more inclined to set the bar for friendship high, and then make as few distinctions as possible among friends.

I think an advantage of that approach consists of not having much of a problem with friendships fading over time and being forgotten. Barring one, all the close friendships I made over the last twelve years still exist, mainly because I don't spread myself too thin for any of them.

It may be that, for some of us flighty butterfly-types, we keep an outer layer of friendship that's a defense mechanism. It's easy to say "oh, this is my friend" about fifty different people, and leave it at that, and use that as a protective husk to keep the majority people at bay, away from the more vulnerable skin beneath where you really can only have someone you know won't take advantage of vulnerability.

I can understand that intellectually, but I can't imagine myself doing it. Psychologically speaking, I protect myself in ways other than erecting barriers -- I have a distaste for barriers...

I had to create a new livejournal icon, just for you sir...

*grins* I'm flattered.