It all makes sense now...sort of.

I finally understand why we were always pushed to participate in extracirricular activities in middle school and high school. It's because when we finally finish school and start working, there is no way what-so-ever to meet new people unless through 'extracirricular' activities. Joining the local gym, the young wine club, the company sports team, and so on is the only way to move out of our current social circle. For those of us who grew up in the same town our whole lives, maybe that isn't so much of an issue. But for those of us who regularly question where "home" really is, it does pose a reason to wonder: How do I meet new and interesting people that I don't want to strangle upon hearing the first ten words that come out of their mouth?

Internet dating is truly an interesting phenomenon. In addition, just browsing Craigslist under "Stricly Platonic" is eye-opening. All these random people, milling about in their daily lives. Who are those people I see every morning at Peet's Coffee? They are the same people to a degree every morning no doubt. Yet it took me a whole year to run into my friend Darin who had also been going to the same Peet's, around the same time, everyday as well. Strange fate is.