Kevin's friendship level is still the same?? (Move out and move in)

[Chungus]

I moved Kevin out so I could get his real house (he's my starter jock). When I went to pick him up again, he recognized me right away! And once he actually moved back in, I found that I was able to give him a gift as soon as I talked to him. Does that mean friendship levels are unaffected in this scenario?

 

[Khaelis]

Did you invite the same Kevin that moved out? He'll remember everything if that's the case.

 

[Minou]

the same thing happened to my jock Sheldon!! he is one of my two first villagers, and i really wanted to have his interior change, although it made me sad to think our friendship would reset.
luckily when he is back, he remembers me, and soon after i learned the flourish reaction from him , that you can only obtain when becoming best friends. it made me so happy and glad!
what @Khaelis says makes sense, because unlike sheldon which i moved back from another island, my second first villager Reneigh who moved out and that i recruited again via mystery island does not remember me.

 

[Chungus]

That's so exciting!! I was so worried of the same thing, that I'd have to rebuild Kevin's and my friendship (he was my first bestie, too). I'm glad you got your boy Sheldon back, @Minou!

This is great to know for the future, too. I have another good villager friend, Maddie, who's on my friend's island. If our paths ever cross again, I'll be assured to know that we're still friends!

Only thing I'm missing is Kevin's old catchphrase, lol.

 

[dizzy bone]

That's cute I don't really mind starter houses (I still have 5 of them on my island lol) but I've always wanted to experience new villagers. I get a little sentimental about these things, so I'm glad to know that they'll remember me if a friend holds one of my villagers for me.