I have or perhaps it would be more accurate to say I had this good friend in Hong Kong, whom I used to see often because we would meet on hikes. During the hikes and at after-hike meals, we would chat. Over time we became good friends. But ever since she started taking up another sport and stopped hiking, we hardly meet up and have since drifted apart. With her work schedule of working overnight shifts (which means she has to sleep in the day on most days), it’s also difficult to find time to meet up now that she doesn’t hike.

And so, I hardly see her anymore. And the more you don’t see or talk to a person, the distance becomes greater and the more difficult it is to pick up where you left off. I do miss her friendship, but I guess this is the case with interest-based friendships. When one or both of you are not into that activity anymore, there are no more chances to meet up. These friends are just ‘play friends’, if you know what I mean. Time for me to find new friends then.