When to Make New Friends

Even English majors read more than just Flannery O'Connor or Shakespeare. A few months ago, I discovered "MWF Seeking BFF--My Yearlong Search for  Best Friend"  and due to the wonders of Amazon, kindle, and my iPhone, I had it in my possession within 30 seconds. I read it in one sitting, devouring both content and the  hope it carried.

As a newlywed, military wife, and extrovert, I should be on the constant prowl for new friends. And in some ways I am. [I'm pretty sure I told my manger that I wanted to work so that I could be around people...] But every time I'm asked if I've made friends, I mumble something about friends on Instagram, facebook, or blogs I follow.

I have lots of new friends on these mediums. My iPhone is constantly updating me on the lives of women that I've never met, and I have a vested interest in their lives. I cheer when they lose weight, cry when they kiss their significant others goodbye, feel a twinge of jealousy when they have a good hair day--the basics of friendship. I follow a few blogs intensely, and I often forget that I don't technically "know" the characters that star in my favorite blogs. Last week I had two friends tell me privately that they were expecting--(I've actually met these, but haven't seen them in years.) And I chat multiple times a week with a girl whom I've never met, but who has become a very dear friend.

My feelings about my phone 

I'm not a hermit--I work around 40 hours a week, and I chat and laugh with my amazing co-workers every shift. I have birthday presents to buy for a new [real life] friend's darling daughter, and I'm fond of discussing the latest twist in Game of Thrones with anyone who will listen. I even know the drink order of a regular night shift worker at Wal Mart!

I have the resources to make real life friends from my hubby's base, but becoming friends with someone because our husbands work at the same base is extremely difficult if there isn't more there... Especially since base is 35 minutes away. There's no "Army Wives" clique of women (and a witty, introspective dude), just women who also "happen" to be here.
 And so, I'm contended in my lazy state of friend-making. I'm slowly (very slowly) adding real life friends, while adding cyber friends at a much more rapid pace. I know that I need to practice my "real friend making" skills because I won't always be less than two hours from my family, won't always be consumed with work and school, won't always be content to just hang with my hubby if I want to go out. But for now, I read books like Bertsche's and admire her friend seeking and making skills, all while checking Instagram.

But since my method lacks so much, I must beg the question: how does everyone else do it? How do you balance hectic job, school, and life schedules with actually meeting and creating friends? Am I wrong to be so delightfully contented with my long distance and cyber relationships, as well as my husband, that I don't feel the need to actively seek out more real life friends?

Share your thoughts! I'd love to hear them!