ABSTRACT
The quest for connection, whether romantic or platonic, sexual or spiritual, is a familiar theme in our earlier years. At any age, we seek and depend upon relationships that are characterized by varying degrees of closeness. Maintaining connections in later life has a special poignancy. This chapter explores the evolution and adaptation that may occur in friendships and intimate partnerships as we age. Family dynamics go through their own transformation as family members grow older. The author also describes the importance of maintaining an “outer circle” of acquaintances—people whom you encounter in daily life—and explains the value of including young people in your social universe.
