If life is a stage and we are in a play, all we need is enough audience to be clearly heard and understood, just enough that our echoes across the theatre don't reflect loneliness.
People always ponder whether or not their social life is gratifying. They compare either the number of people or the quality of vibe around them to measure their status in social standings.
Social life is something everyone is apprehensive about but none would admit their insecurities. Why? Why should they? We aren't living in peaceful society. We are part of a fucked up era where materialistic possessions trump over ideal ones. Every age group worries about what influence they have over others. Seems like the only other currency that works in our society is the amount of influence one has over others.
So what exactly should be an ideal number of a social circle? It is very much an open ended question because no one answer can ever satisfy everyone because it all comes down to one thing, Different Mindsets.
When one speaks out loud in an empty room, their voice echoes. But when one talks into a filled hall, their own voice struggles to be heard over the murmurs and noises. People and their voices have one thing common, they want to be heard. Better yet, they want to be listened and understood. Considering people as voices, its easier to accept my quote on social life.
This way the number of friends one needs could be 1 for most. 2 maybe? in cases of hard core extroverts. Maybe few more if you are lucky enough like me such but it is overrated, exaggerated and pretentious to think we want and need friends more than the number you can count on fingers but hey, who am I to say? I'm just a phony extrovert.