Man Finds Close Friend After Relocating to Miami at 58

Scott Scovel reconnected with an old acquaintance and the two became good friends, sharing retirement experiences.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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When Scott Scovel moved from New York to Miami at age 58, he struggled to make new friends due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. However, he reconnected with an old acquaintance, Bruno, and the two became close friends, bonding over shared interests and experiences as they approached retirement.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges of making new friends later in life, especially during a pandemic, but also demonstrates that it's possible to form meaningful connections at any age by reaching out to old acquaintances. Scovel's experience shows the value of having a close friend to share the retirement journey with.

The details

After moving to Miami, Scovel read advice about rekindling old connections to make friends. He reached out to Bruno, a former work colleague, and the two met for lunch. They discovered shared interests like news, travel, and cycling, and Bruno invited Scovel and his girlfriend over for an Argentine barbecue. As Scovel approached retirement, he valued having Bruno, who was already semi-retired, as a friend to discuss investment strategies and the anxieties of leaving the corporate world.

  • Scovel moved from New York to Miami in 2021 at age 58.
  • Scovel reconnected with Bruno, his former work colleague, later in 2021.
  • Scovel retired in 2022.

The players

Scott Scovel

A 58-year-old man who moved from New York to Miami and struggled to make new friends, but reconnected with an old acquaintance and formed a close friendship.

Bruno

Scovel's former work colleague who became a close friend after Scovel reached out to him when moving to Miami.

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What they’re saying

“Welcome to Miami. I look forward to having lunch.”

— Bruno (Business Insider)

“Some people are really surprised that I found such a good friend later in life.”

— Bruno (Business Insider)

“What do you mean, friend? I thought we were brothers.”

— Scott Scovel (Business Insider)

The takeaway

This story shows that it's possible to form close friendships later in life, even during challenging times like a pandemic, by reaching out to old acquaintances. Scovel's experience highlights the value of having a friend to share the retirement journey with and the confidence that can come from those connections.