Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.
Friendship is unnecessary like philosophy like art... It has no survival value rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
It is my art. I am better at it than I ever was. And I will do it as long as I can. When you reach a certain age you can slough off what is unnecessary and concentrate on what is. And why not?
There exist only three beings worthy of respect: the priest the soldier the poet. To know to kill to create.