I have had three punting buddies over my punting career, one British and two American, all met at work or while travelling for work, and all now deceased. This was before I found UKP, and I really enjoyed talking to them and sharing experiences. Luckily, there was no chance of any of them meeting up with anyone close to home, such as family.
When we both hit 50, the British guy advised me to 'get punting whenever you can as we only have 20 more shagging years left!' Sadly, he died aged 59, while I am lucky enough to have carried on for more than 30 years.
The first American guy had erectile dysfunction problems, so it was interesting, and sometimes useful, to compare notes with him. He was single, and was more adventurous than me, even to the point of picking up street walkers, taking them home, and filming them in action with him (he showed me one of his films!).
The second American guy introduced me to a couple of WGs in a basement flat in New York city, as well as to an ebony (civvie) friend who was the illegitimate daughter of a well-known jazz musician, and with whom I stayed overnight a few times on my way through NYC.
So yes, for me punting buddies were a good thing, but I guess I was just lucky....