These days I make friends easily outside the fellowship, and the majority of my friends are non alcoholic.
Within the fellowship I have a number of very close friends, but they would be a very small number over all.
When I think about it, the common ground we have is living in the solution. All my close friends are active in the program, practicing the steps, sponsoring, carrying the message. We have a strong bond.
Many come to AA and experience the spirit of the fellowship, but far fewer progress to join the fellowship of the spirit.