For me, they are people from an online community. We know eachother since 1-2 decades and they know some things about me that even my own mother doesn’t know. They even unknowingly saved my life when i was on the nearly suicidal during COVID, simply by responding to my cry for help. Sometimes, we get at each other’s nerves, but we still close friends nevertheless.
I have two aunts, one in the UK and the other about a state away from me. I’ve known them for about 4 years and they’ve been the best aunts I’ve come to know. I used to have a chosen mother but things with her are up in the air after coming to light some very questionable content being shared on her FB that takes jabs at transgenders.
My wife and son, four of my friends, two of my friend’s children one of which has two children, two of my son’s childhood friends who are adults.
My wife, kid, dog, our friend/nanny who’s 20 years younger, and my friend group from college. We also have some ex-coworkers who are like adopted grandparents, and a few more who are smaller friend groups.
I’m low-contact with my immediate family, and my wife’s parents are dead, buslt she has some siblings who are close friends.