This was the way it was for me when I was younger. We didn’t have to do anything. Just have someone around. We’d read comics, play games, do whatever. Just be around each other, doing anything or nothing. Sure, there’d be times we were very active together or go do something. But, it was very cool and fun to just have someone around and hang out for the company…

Is this an autism thing?

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.

A lot of autistic people enjoy parallel play. I know i enjoy the presence of other people while i read or play games.

Fucking love Frog and Toad are Friends!