 The series revolves around its title character and his various friends . SpongeBob SquarePants is an energetic and optimistic sea sponge ( although his appearance more closely resembles a kitchen sponge ) who lives in a sea pineapple and loves his job as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab . He has a pet snail , Gary , who meows like a cat . Living two houses down from SpongeBob is his best friend Patrick Star , a dim @-@ witted yet friendly pink starfish who lives under a rock . Despite his " mental setbacks " , Patrick still sees himself as intelligent . Squidward Tentacles is SpongeBob 's next @-@ door neighbor and co @-@ worker at the Krusty Krab . Squidward is an arrogant and ill @-@ tempered octopus who lives in an Easter Island moai and dislikes his neighbors ( especially SpongeBob ) for their childlike behavior . He enjoys playing the clarinet and painting self @-@ portraits , but hates his job as a cashier . 
