@sarahsweets yes I agree common interests are a good start - shared values and goals. That is good you have made friends through AA and I imagine mutual support has been a part of that.

@TunedOut thankyou so much for your kind words! I agree lockdown made it hard to sustain conversations when so little was happening in our day to day lives and of course it limited our opportunities for meeting up. I actually developed a new friendship in lockdown with someone I knew many years on acquaintances level it kind of focussed me more on what was truly important. I am a little reserved in nature and it is often hard for me to make first moves.

@Fuzzybear thank you fuzzy! I do regard you as a friend too - I do hope you aren't avoiding too many people irl, this is something I have done too because it feels safer. You are right some groups are more open than others and it's a case of spotting those opportunities to develop friendships whilst also being discerning about who we mix with.