The TEP Triangle recognizes that every friendship exists within three intersecting constraints:
Time: Your Temporal Budget
Time isn't just hours—it's available hours that align with social opportunities. This includes: - Work schedule flexibility - Family obligations - Commute and transition time - Energy levels during free time - Calendar coordination complexityEnergy: Your Social Battery
Energy encompasses physical, emotional, and social capacity: - Introversion/extroversion spectrum - Social anxiety or comfort levels - Emotional bandwidth after life demands - Physical energy based on health/age - Recovery needs between social interactionsProximity: Your Geographic Reality
Proximity includes both physical and logistical distance: - Geographic distance between friends - Transportation options and costs - Shared spaces and natural overlap - Time zones for remote friendships - Accessibility of meeting locationsThese three factors create your "friendship feasibility zone"—the realistic space within which you can build and maintain connections.