Once again, I was taken aback by how friendly and welcoming everyone was. After a morning of reading and learning about my new role, the office took me for lunch. We shared salads and pizzas and salted caramel ice cream (yum!) - oh, and a bottle of Robert Sinskey pinot noir rosé. At 12:30 p.m. On a sunny California day. Before going back to the office to...um...work for the remainder of the afternoon.
And then, after work, I found myself at Signorello Vineyards, a beautiful property overlooking the valley.
The vineyard had brought in a caterer to pair their wines with food, which we ate staring out over the infinity pool (do people actually have those?) and into the vines. I really don't think I'll ever fully get used to this. The three piece band next to the massage chairs behind the bar certainly didn't help reality set in. Just a typical Monday night in Napa, I guess!
One of my new colleague's roommates is the marketing manager there and so he had invited me as a networking opportunity. Ironically, though, I was the one introducing him to others at the event. I had been told that Napa was a small town, but I don't think it hit me until that moment how small. This group of people I'd met on my first night seem to turn up at every event I go to, and I've run into my roommate not once, but twice, in a restaurant.
I've been enjoying meeting new people constantly, but I can't help but wonder: will it last? If I already feel I know nearly everybody in this town, how many new people are left for me to meet?
The funny thing is it really doesn't matter how small a place is, it's the novelty of your surroundings that makes things exciting. Had I been out at a similar event in New York perhaps there would have been more people, but I would have been different. As much as I like to think I put myself out there all the time, that I'm always looking to meet new people, ultimately that beginner's enthusiasm can't be faked.
Not to mention, we certainly don't have this on the east coast.
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