Look at my late father. He had one person he was close to—my mother. But he was enmeshed in society. Congenial with co-workers, coached and played baseball, fixed stuff for people in the neighborhood, friendly with staff at McDonalds etc., so he had a lot of lesser connections and he was at peace.

But when my mother died he lost his purpose for living. He was fine with one close friend, given his other connections, but not fine with zero and no purpose.

I like this (approximate) quote from Nietzsche: “If a person has a Why, they can cope with almost any How.”