I spent a lot of years on the road, and what happens is you find out who your real friends are and you find out where your strengths and weaknesses lie in communication. I’ve had the same friends for 20 years now and I can count them on one hand.

McLachlan reflects on the long-term effects of life as a touring musician: constant travel tests relationships and forces a person to confront their own habits, especially around communication. The “road” becomes a proving ground where casual acquaintances fall away and only a small, durable circle remains. Her emphasis on being able to “count them on one hand” underscores how rare sustained loyalty can be amid a demanding career, and suggests that maturity involves valuing depth over breadth in friendships. The quote also frames self-knowledge—recognizing strengths and weaknesses—as something earned through pressure and distance rather than comfort and routine.