This is basically just fishing but with fewer steps.

My best friend would just hang out and watch me play video games, and turn down playing himself when I would offer because I felt bad. He said he liked watching me because I was so much better than him and it was the only way he’d see parts of the games I liked playing.

Sucks that he lives in another state. And is also married with children. Probably wouldn’t hang out much even if we lived closer.

This is actually common in many other cultures and I wish it was more normalized in general US culture.

That being friendships where there is no need for a reason to hang out besides the company.

I live in NYC and I have some select friends who also grew up culturally outside the US and we do this:

If I asked them what they were up to, they’d say something like “going to the barbershop for a haircut”, “doing laundry at the laundromat”, or other errands.

I would then ask to tag along and maybe say a thing or two from time to time, but for the most part I’m doing something parallel to them.

Usually I’m reading a book, checking my phone, watching Netflix, working on my laptop etc.

It’s great.

There’s no need for an excuse to be with these friends.

We just enjoy each other’s company.

Mia: Don’t you hate that?
Vincent: What?
Mia: Uncomfortable silences. Why do we feel it’s necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?
Vincent: I don’t know. That’s a good question.
Mia: That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.