Circles & Cycles

2009 has brought an interesting friendship landscape to my life. Ending a serious, 3-year relationship meant that I had to end a number of friendships as well, and the year began with me and about a dozen people I care about.

In the Spring I went off chasing a dream of floating around Europe with only my passport, a small duffle, two contacts in Spain and no reservations. From that trip abroad new friendships sprung up, new connections in life were formed and when I returned I discovered by trust and faith in people was largely linked to those in Europe and not NYC where I choose to be.

Summer had brought more new faces. People I had never met before that were met in random incidents. Some I met in my travels and are quickly becoming fun 'gal pals'. Contacts from those I met abroad are getting in touch and becoming part of my new circle of people I count on and trust. Faces I had seen many times, had conversations with, and yet it wasn't until now that the conversation turned to relating.

While not unique to Manhattan, I am sure, it is true that here you can reinvent yourself in a moments notice. Change your address and you inherit a ton of new faces in neighbors, deli owners, laundry ladies, etc. Change your job and your life become filled with fresh new people that do what you do. Meet a new love and suddenly you have more people to hang out with -- not just your beaux.

Change here is not hard to come by. Living in tiny boxes (ie., apartments) ensures that more of our time will be spent outside. Spending time outdoors brings street traffic and a ton of new faces to encounter. Any one of these could end up being your new best friend, new boyfriend or the neighbor that you think is a bit looney.

Its here that interaction is inevitable, and such interaction leads to a new life...constantly, always revolving, always changing, always on the move. While becoming more and better is indeed a plus, I do think sometimes --even in Manhattan -- we all want the world to stop moving so we can enjoy this moment a little longer. But the song is true. In a New York minute, everything can change. And in New York, the world just doesn't stop. Ever.