Hmm, I see close friendships and Village as separate, but overlapping concepts.

Close friendships are fewer these days. Busier, changing personally, them changing, moves etc. I have close friends who are their for emotional support, but due to distance are not there for picking up the kids in a emergency. I have a few friends locally that are both close confidants and Village.

I have a village of people, who may not be close, but I know if I called up and said "hey can the girls walk home with your kids after school and I pick them up later?" they would be fine with that. There is just not enough of a connection to be good friends, we can chat about school stuff, local township stuff, but I could never talk to them about issues with DH for example.

If find the Village evolves over the years. Initially it was play group/ABA mothers, some moved onto being friends, others faded away. Then came Kinder, childcare and school and the relationships from that.

Family is only somewhat a part of my Village due to distance and age of some of them. MIL does help where she can, like flying over to help during school holidays.