People always leave.

We have a new roommate (well, we've had a new roommate for a couple of weeks now, but I'm finally getting around to addressing it). Thank goodness, too, because I have no idea how we were going to afford January rent (Have I ever said New York is quite expensive? Yea. Big surprise there.)

Frenchie (that's what we call her. Can you guess where she's from? I was against the nickname originally, in case one day we slipped up and called it to her face, but now it's funny) goes to college in North Carolina and is here to do an internship. This means she's temporarily living in the city until April.

So, I've made the executive decision that I am not going to get to know her. I know this seems a little harsh, but in my head it makes perfect sense. I have enough long distance friends who I already do a craptastic job of keeping in touch with (again, why some of you put up with me, I will never know) and having one more is probably going to break me. I have made exactly 5 really good friends since I moved here and only ONE is still present. I never understood what Peyton Sawyer was talking about, until now (That is a One Tree Hill reference, btw. If you're not with it, you better ask somebody).

Ever since I moved here I feel like I've gotten into a pattern of making really good temporary friends. I get to know someone, create a great friendship and then they leave. I understand New York isn't very permanent for a lot of people and it's kind of hard to make it here, but this phenomenon of people moving away from the city is new to me. I will never understand and every time it happens I always feel like Nick Lachey when Jessica blindsided him with divorce papers. But what happened? I thought I was a good friend! DON'T LEAVE ME!! (I'm sorry. I don't know what actually went down, but I can totally see Nick whining like that. No offense. I'd give a cup size to have a guy like him. He just seems like the sensitive type)

Remember, I'm from New Orleans, where it is unthinkable to ever want to leave and if you do, you're out casted. New Orleans girls quote Chris Rose's "She is a New Orleans girl and New Orleans girls never live anywhere else and even if they do, they always come back. That's just the way it is. To hell with no house, no car, no job, no prospects. This is where she belongs. And her mama lives here." and they probably have this tattooed on their asses, in case they ever forget. I swear there is a weird gravitational pull directly under the surface of the earth at exactly 30lat/90long which keeps people living in a city that keeps sinking with the worst educational system in the country and no opportunities. . . but I digress. Maybe I am a little bitter I wasn't one of those girls who settled down with her college sweetheart and has 3 kids who get to see their grandma everyday. . . . . maybe I just like making fun of you. who knows?

The point is, I am no longer interested in meeting people who are in New York (i.e. my life)temporarily. My patience has run thin on people who can dismiss this city so easily whereas I have no idea why I'm still here, but I know there is a reason so I'm sticking it out. This is the center of the universe, people! Where the hell are you going?

One of my first questions when I meet someone is going to be "How long do you plan on being in the city?" and if there is an expiration date, you will automatically be disregarded no matter how fabulous you are. Tough love, baby.