I guess it's going to be an individual preference for what counts as a meaningful relationship with friends. For me doing shared activities together on a regular basis is what brings me a lot of enjoyment in a friendship. I have long-term friends who I mostly only stay in touch with via the phone/internet, and it's just not the same.
To be clear this isn't a value judgement, but perhaps a point to consider when thinking about trying this lifestyle.
I agree with you. It's pretty lonely 'after a while'. Everything starts to be kind of the same just with a different aesthetic.
People fetishize travel but there's immense joy in the day to day things. Community, family, good food, etc.
My preference is it's better to have a home base with a community and take trips.
My preference would be to take month long trips once or twice a year and come home to a home base.
That being said...I need to travel and get out of my head space and try to do it often.