Can a person have too many friends?

I've never been one to have a lot of close friends. I have a lot of people I know whom I would call friends but are not people I keep in touch with regularly. I know people I played tennis with years ago. When I run into them somewhere, they seem like old friends, although we do not keep in touch. I've usually only had a couple of close friends at a time. Maybe it was because I moved around a lot during the early years of my career. Leaving friends behind is painful, so not having a lot of close friends makes the process of leaving a little easier. We still keep in touch with most of those with a Christmas card, or stop to visit while on our way somewhere for vacation. Are you being selfish? You have to determine how much time and space you need. If you are feeling smothered by your friends, then you can't be a good friend to them anyway. When you haven't been in touch with them for a while, you have more to tell them when you do see them. If they are good friends, they should understand your need for time and space for yourself. Explain it to them. Their response will let you know what kind of friends they are.