The fuller picture is that they do not only like the buzz of a house party or a comedy night. They also show up in person when a friend needs somebody nearby.

Friendship becomes real for them when the two of you turn out to be looking at life in a similar way. Age matters much less to them than the feeling that the other person gets what they mean, even when you are at very different points.

They like a day that feels alive now, with a small surprise or one simple thing to look forward to, rather than one spent worrying about the years ahead. Too much thinking about the future tires them out, and so does being around people nonstop, because they need time alone as well.

They listen for whether people mean what they say, especially once the conversation gets honest and there is no easy answer. They move closer to people who can speak plainly and still see life from a shared angle.

They pull back when somebody keeps cancelling, goes quiet instead of talking things through, or avoids the hard conversation. A missed reply happens, but they stop chasing when the same excuses keep replacing a clear answer.

Ask them about the horse riding.