There’s nothing to lose by trying as long as you accept that the worst case scenario is they’re still not part of your life.

Maintaining relationships is hard. They’re likely minimally social these days as well. Somewhere around your age is where many people suddenly feel lonely. It’s a tough lesson on the concept of “friends of proximity”. That’s usually a negative term, but, quite frankly, I believe all friends are friends of proximity. If you change proximity (new job, differetlnt school, drop a hobby, move, etc), you have to work harder to stay in each other’s orbits. Shortened tangent: this is something I’m at peace with now. Instead of putting asterisks next to everyone that’s a work friend or hobby friend, they’re just friends. I don’t know when that friendship will end, so I focus on enjoying the current relationship.

The point I’m coming to is that, while I understand this is a unique situation for you, it’s a common general feeling. That will make it tough to rejoin social circles that likely don’t exist anymore. But, if you do manage to meet up, have at it. Enjoy it. Perhaps there are other people in your orbit that can be reevaluated as a friend. Maybe you can find something to do with them, even if it’s just a very basic hangout after work or something. I find many people are hesitant because they also think of these friendships as temporary, but hopefully you can get a feel for options and feedback. I know your post was about old friends, but I’m hoping they’re not your only option.

And please, please, do not take social media posts as their daily diary. It’s so hard to accept, but every day they’re not posting, they’re just as bored and alone as everyone else scrolling. Social media is the high lights reel. So much of it is projection.