what's wrong with being who you are?

I've discovered that people I was friends with years ago, might not be someone I'd be friends with now. I'd never thought about that before. I used to choose friends at random... finding joy in giving my entire heart to the friendship....but,as I got older, I'd find time and time again--- pain and disapointment.... I became guarded and selective. The friends I choose these days, are not necessarily the friends I would have chosen in days gone past. I had great friend, in high school... we hit it off and laughed our heads off at just about everything. She's grown up, married, and had 10 children. Maybe even 11 by now. Who knows!? I went back to visit her about 6 years ago...and discovered that, while we still could laugh about things, we had very little in common. She parented differently than I do--a lot of things she does I don't agree with. She has lived in the same city her whole life...and I've been around the world. Not that staying in one place is bad... But would we be friends if we had met now instead of then?

Another friend of mine has totally changed her lifestyle since I was close friends with her.... holding on to nothing of her past, including her children. She makes jokes about things that are important to me...that I thought had been important to her back then. It seems that she was never the person I thought she was... but was merely coping in the world that didn't fit her.... but suited me just fine. But could we see around our differences and still find real friendship? I think maybe I'm the problem. I think I've changed too much. I'm content, for the most part, about who I am, how I was raised, and what I believe. What does that mean? Maybe I'm just naive? *sigh*