I Sing The Buddy Electric

When I got a boyfriend six months ago, I became a lot less available to my best friend. I knew she was disappointed, but she took it in stride and even claimed to understand. I'm bagging a lot of guilt now because I call her the most when I'm having trouble with my boyfriend.

--Bad Friend

It isn't like you've stopped sharing your life with her -- not if you count all those times your butt dialed her number and left a muffled five-minute message on her voicemail. Assuming your friend isn't just a doormat, she's been a good friend by not getting all miffy that you've been preoccupied. Your friendship probably can't take up as much of your lifespace as it did before, but you can recommit to it by making time for her regularly with phone, Skype, and coffee dates. You might also try an idea from "Friendfluence" author Carlin Flora -- celebrating the success of a long-term friendship as you would a romantic relationship and treating your friend to dinner and reminiscing about how you met and the great times you've had. (Think of it as your "friendiversary.") This should help you avoid undervaluing your friendship, which is important, in case what was proudly perky on you takes a downturn into something a little more National Geographic. That's when you can really count on your female friends to stand by you -- and if they're less affected by gravity, to stand by you in public as often as possible.