Hello Charljwl: I'm sorry you are feeling so alone. Hopefully coming here to PC can be of some comfort & support. I'm afraid I'm not the type of person you're looking for in the way of a friend. (I'm one of those old people you mentioned in your post.) However there are lots of members here you can be friends with. The key is really to post lots of your own threads & reply to lots of other members' posts. And also participate in some of the "chats":

https://forums.psychcentral.com/calendar.php

Over time you'll find many friends here.

Since this is your first post here on PC... to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!