Friends vs relatives

I love my friends, especially the ones who I've been with for a long time. I try and catch up with them in different parts of the world time and again, talk about old times, think through current challenges and chart out a future course of action. We inevitably have a few beers, talk about everything under the sun and have a good time. I always look forward to meeting them.

With relatives, I can't say that is always true. A typical one hour meeting with a relative in India goes like this-
First 15 minutes- Complaint about not coming to India often;
Second 15 minutes- The last time I visited, they realized I stayed with Uncle X for four hours, while I was at their place for only an hour- that is unfair and discriminatory behavior;
Third 15 minutes- Asking how much I earn and my attempts to dodge the question;
Fourth 15 minutes- Complaint about how little I have begun to eat and their attempts to over-feed me.

I understand all this is done in good faith. But somehow, the experience isnt always pleasant. Why is this so? Why is the the element of jealousy much more amongst relatives than amongst friends? Is it because relatives are too close for comfort? Is it because we choose our friends and can't choose our relatives and hate the fact we dont have a choice? Whatever the reason, I have found myself creating more and more time to connect with good friends but not so with relatives.

Maybe, this will change as I grow older. As friends drift apart, blood relatives may become much closer with time. One can never tell, but I just hope I begin to enjoy their company as much as I enjoy that of my friends.