Baby Steps

I went yesterday after work to get my hair done and I got to talking with Sunshine, the gal who was fixing my hair. Hairdressers have the gift of gab - they pretty much have to right? Isn't it a job requirement for them? At any rate, we found out that we were both not San Jose natives and were talking about how hard it is to get used to a new place. Towards the top of our lists of things we miss were our friends. Even though I'm a very social creature (it's a huge part of my job, as well), I am having a hard time connecting. I meet a ton of people, but I don't want to be friends with the parents I meet. I've learned through others' examples to keep a strict boundary between my professional life and my personal life. There are plenty of teachers I meet since I work at three schools - and they come in all ages. The problem is that it takes a while for me to trust someone enough to call them "friend", and I've done so much moving around lately that I don't stay long enough to get to that point. This is the first weekend I've sought out two other women I've met to have a coffee date. I'm very picky about who I seek out - they are usually at least my age or older. They either are in a serious relationship/marriage or have been in one and they usually have children or at least feel very comfortable around them. The younger ladies don't understand that I can't stay out until the wee hours of the morning drinking and the older ladies are a bit too grumpy for me and they talk about things that are before my time. As far as character traits, I've never thought about that as much when deciding who I will spend my time with. My three good friends from Seattle are so very different - one is wild and carefree and definitely a realist; the other is very grounded in her roots, down to earth, is the most genuine person I think I've ever met, with an awesome sense of humor and a laugh that is infectious; and the third is very conservative (bordering on uptight), emotional, funny, and the most giving person you'd ever meet. Each one comes from very different walks of life and have had very different experiences to bring them to where they are now. I feel like they balance me out pretty well. I miss that - I miss them, my friends. It's hard to be in a new place and find people who balance me out, but finally after two months of living here, I am taking baby steps...