Do you have a group of friends that you truly love?

After watching the first Sex and the City movie again last night, I can’t help but wish to have a small circle of fun, supportive and devoted friends much like that of the Sex and the City characters. I also wondered if in real life, one could develop such deep bonding which suffers and gets tested through volatile and painful ups and downs, yet somehow survives and remains intact through the years.

Do you have such great relationships with a small group of friends? Ones who would show up when you need them most, drop what they were doing just to be there with you and commiserate or celebrate? And friends to whom you would reciprocate, loving them unconditionally? How did it start and what did you have to do to keep it together?

How can you find and develop this kind of profound friendship later in life? Do you think you have to live close together in order to nurture such a sincerely warm and utterly special relationship?