This is sad:
I receive an e-mail from an old friend with whom I haven’t had contact for years. I am excited. I open the e-mail, only to find out that they are contacting me in my capacity as a lawyer in the hope for free legal advice because they are going through a divorce or because their niece is facing deportation.
(Yes, this happens quite often.)
The Happy Hermit 
I would ignore the email or say, “Who are you again?”
Okay, now THAT stuff is a MAJOR downer.
Some time you get caught up in life and dont have the time, working ,kids,taking care of the house, family and so on. Cant tell you how many old friends i would like to catch up with, With you traveling i would be sure its hard to catch up with you,I dont like doing work for friend it always seems to go bad,, I would recommend them to an attorney that would give you a finder fee ! At least they thought of you !!
sad but happens very often with me too :( a lot of friends start chatting out of no where and then I realize they have got something to ask or need my favor with something..
Luckily, I know how to say “no”.
hmmm….that’s a really good quality you know….I learned it after a long time and in a hard way but yes now I know who is worth saying yes and what request I can think about :)
I also had to learn it the hard way and wasted a lot of time, but better late than never.
I agree with you on this as it will save my rest of the life in wasting a lot of things :)