Exactly! I just use the friend word to indicate that I have met the person before and not that we are all that close. People who I call my genuine friends are those I reason with, talk to often, share things together. When I call them friends then mean it.
Yeah, friendship seasons as you have said it, they have their time. I remember my high school best friend. He is not in Nigeria and we are not all that close like before again but sometimes we manage to call each other still now but not as often.
It's cool that you're still in contact with your friend. Even those we lose contact with, it's cool. There's no bad blood.