One can find closeness in either place. I had a marriage for 33 years that wasn't intimate because my husband wasn't able to communicate or be a true partner. He could do nice things like a friend, but couldn't take care of a family or protect them.

I left him 3 years ago & moved across the country. I never had a group of friends when I was married & was pretty much a loan person all my life, but when I moved here, I found a group of friends that I ride horses with & I found another group of friends that I go to Bible Study with. Both groups I have found to have several people that I have been able to become close with.

After my Mother died 5 years ago.....I had NO family left other than my husband & daughter & my daughter had moved away many years before that. You can find a group or people but that doesn't guarantee that you will find an intimate relationship with any one in there. It takes having interests in common, communication on things that interest, caring & taking care of each other, being willing to go out of your way to help them & then in turn, they go out of their way to help you.

Finding intimate friendship is not guaranteed not does it always happen whether on an mate sort of relationship, nor in a group setting. It all depends on the people & on yourself......guess what I am saying is that there are no guarantees in life...all you can do is try & see what comes. I think it's easier to find good friendships than to find the right partner from my personal experience.

Best wishes on your endeavor to find that intimate relationship you are looking for. Sometimes we can put too much thought into what we are wanting & then try to force it to happen rather than to just let life happen the way its supposed to for us. Some things we can't force, we just have to be aware of what is available & put ourselves in situations where they can happen, but things like intimate relationships can't be forced or made.....they have to happen.