I think this has more to do with the way you consume friendship than with the idea in general.

For me personally, even if I live in the same town as my best friend, I will barely see him. Most communication that deeply matters to me happens through text messages or email, not through in-person interaction.

I also tend to have a very small number of people that I consider friends, but I am fiercely loyal and protective of that small set of people. I don't want a large network of friends because my experience in life is that very few people are able or willing to help me and very few people share the perspectives that I have.

For the few that make good friends, geographical distance is one of the last things I would expect to affect the friendship.