I really relate to what you said. I, too, have no one. And I’ve suffered for clinical depression since high school. However, that hasn’t stopped me from making friends. I’m just concerned about when I start getting senile, incapacitated, or whatever who would fill the position a family member would normally fill: getting home health, checking to make sure the ace show up, paying them. I am working out something with a lawyer. I really trust. I’m trying to get a network of friends who don’t have to assume the whole entire job the way a son or daughter might. But for example, if they noticed I was getting to the point where I needed help they would contact him. If he needed to hire a home health aids, they could take turns interviewing them. They would occasionally follow up with home visits to make sure that everything is being done properly and again if there is a problem report back to the lawyer. I think the burden of running the whole show is too much to put on a Friend, but having three or four people who might take on those individual tasks… Well, it’s just like they’d be coming to visit me just like they did before I was incapacitated. It really put my mind at ease, to rest and relieved a lot of stress and anxiety to feel like I could set up something like this. Our society is not set up to “take care of “older people or those who are incapacitated and don’t have family or the incredible friend who would take the place of the son or daughter… A huge responsibility to put on a friend!