Making friends as an adult is very hard. It’s not just the paucity of opportunities. There are also layers of anxieties to cut through because the conceptual definition of “friend” changes from childhood. There are always the haunting questions of “How do I not make this awkward or weird?” and “Why does this person want to be with me?”
We adults must (or at least are) aware that both parties are constantly asking this question while socializing. Aside from finding fun activities to do together, we have to be aware of what potential boundaries and ulterior motives are present.
James P. Sandoval of Just a Jape advises suspicion.