Published date: January 29, 2025
Living with close friends can boost happiness, reduce stress, and defeat loneliness.
Friends can more easily share housework and resolve conflicts, which creates more balanced homes.
Chris (left), John (back), and Patrick (front) are best close friends who live together at Gabriel Homes.
The latter has been a resident the longest. Since the new millennium, Patrick has taken newer residents under his wing and built friendships with everyone.
“I do everything with Chris and John when we’re home,” says Patrick. “We play card games like Crazy 8s and Go Fish, and we throw darts and cheer when we hit bullseyes.”
Birthday parties are favorite events among the gentlemen.
John and Caryn had birthday parties in January with their housemates. Chris and Patrick say they like celebrating with friends and eating special meals like pizza and cake.
“The best parties are the ones you have with your friends,” John says. “I’m happy when I can share vanilla birthday cake with everyone. My favorite part of my birthday was opening my new Tony Bennett CD.”
When they’re not throwing parties...
...the group spends time together at men’s night and powerlifting practices. On those evenings, they watch TV with friends like Gabe and Sam at their home. At training sessions at IMP Fitness, the gentlemen warm up next to each other on treadmills and pull weights in the same group. Chris and John compete in the same weight class, but they cheer each other on at competitions.
“John is a great powerlifter, and he pushes me to be stronger,” Chris says. “Powerlifting is more fun when you train with your friends. I’m proud of how much we’ve gotten stronger.”
Gabriel Homes staff praise Chris, John, and Patrick’s bond as close friends and say they always look out for each other.
