I do belive in many ways that friendship is the closest one can get to "true love" if you follow, friendship always has and still are something sacred to me. You can argue, be apart, have diffrenses, but in the end.. what matters is that deep connection.
Take me and my sweet cousin, we are so alike, and she annoys the hell out of me, and vice versa, but i love her so much and life without her would be unthinkable. We grew up together, our mums are best friends. And we do share many moments and memories. We parted for quite some time, many years actually, and she missed my sons first years due to my ex. But now, it´s as if we never were appart. So i can relate to what you say Pale..
Having people around that knows you inside and out is a wonderful thing yet in ways also scary..