Yup. I started doing it after some friends disappeared out of my life not due to any reason, just.. social entropy. So I started reaching out.

Sometimes conversations don't go anywhere, just the "How are you?" "Fine" kind of stuff. Never had a negative experience. Have had a fair amount of positive ones - news about friends having kids, finding partners, new jobs, etc. A few people who had left my life are now back in my orbit.

At the cost of a few minutes, it's potentially high gain.