The One Left Behind

If you've followed me for long, you know I've moved quite a bit. Honestly? I've never lived anywhere longer than six years. Ever. Once we pass July here, it will be the longest I've lived anywhere because we'll start our seventh year. It's exciting. But it also comes with a twist I wasn't thinking about.
We moved here with the expectation of staying. Seriously putting down roots, digging in, finding a church family to grow with and let our children grow up in, you get the idea. And we really do feel we've done that, for the most part. But you see that picture above? The one with my daughter and one of her friends? It probably won't ever happen again.
Why?
Because that friend is moving away this summer.

And two years ago, we lost our best friends when they moved to Arkansas. The good news is we can still see them every now and then because they live in the same town as my in-laws. The bad news is that is six hours away.
Needless to say, making friends is all great and swell until it's not you leaving them behind for a new town. The tables have been turned a bit. And I can't decide if it's easier or harder to be the one left behind instead of the one leaving. Both have their downsides, for sure.
At least with us not being the one leaving, we don't have to completely start all over making friends. We do still have other friends here besides the ones who are moving. And you never know who will move in after others have moved away. Possibilities of new friends are endless.
But, it's bittersweet because we don't want to lose the friends who made us love living here so much, either. Even though we're happy for them as they start their own new adventures.
Sounds like I don't like either of them, huh?
What about you? Have you always been the one to do the leaving? Or are you the one who has been left? Any insights as I help my children walk through watching more friends move away?