My experience is that a hobby gives a pretense for communication – which is an opportunity for depth, but not a guarantee. "Oh yeah, X guitar is so sick" is a

My experience is that a hobby gives a pretense for communication – which is an opportunity for depth, but not a guarantee. "Oh yeah, X guitar is so sick" is a shallow conversation. vs "Yeah, I've always had a soft spot for the strat. My best friend's dad was a luthier, and I'd always be in his shop when things got rough at home" Now you've got an opportunity to talk about something a little more real. A somewhat dark example, but... I find that returns on depth are a function of vulnerability invested. Tastefully, of course. Don't puke your trauma on the first date. But it's fear of opening up, at least in my experience, that keeps male relationships in the HobbyZone.