Hi Mickcable!  My own experience (I've been an ex for three years now) is that I've been able to maintain friendships with those premies I felt an affinity with even during my most fanatic premie years!  We shared things that would probably have been considered outside the bailiwick of premiehood anyway, and it's that part that sustains the friendship now.  We've also instinctively (and in some cases overtly) agreed to NOT discuss either their continuing premiehood or the reasons for my leaving it all behind.  So far so good with that.  And I don't have any interest in actively attempting to influence them in this regard.  Some will say I'm too passive, but I really believe in allowing people to have their own process whichever direction they're going in--as best a recovering codependent can at any rate!  Hands off! 

Cheers!

Shelagh