FWIW. I've always found older people that retire somewhere new (like Thailand or Hawaii, or Florida, etc.) are open to friendship. That said., I have two great friends here, meet outside the bar, at ex-pats club meeting. But, I agree it is hard to make friends, more, just acquaintances. When you are old it is impossible to make old friends. Accept that. But, it is really important to connect with someone, anyone, life is short. Depending on just the wife/girlfriend is easy, but not the best idea. We are all different in out need for friends. I, for one, have found closer friends here that I did back home. Back home, it was mostly women/lovers. I think it is easier to make mates here. My best friend in the US was a woman, not a lover, here it is a man. Ah, we are all different.