Almost every day I go to the local cafe. Might get a coffee; might be picking up milk. Could be taking over a classes’ lunch order. Work stuff. You know. But almost every day I’m at the local cafe due to work, and often just to get something to drink in the morning.

The cafe is pretty close. Maybe thirty metres away from the entrance of where I work. Easy to get to. I’m usually in and out, and that’s that. Interactions for the day end. Sometimes I’m there multiple times. Always depends on things.

Recently I became the local heartthrob for the cafe staff. Of course, this isn’t true, but they know what I’m going through and what I’m dealing with, and we talk and get along. They take an interest in my life and I, theirs. And it makes me wonder about what is going on in my life, that these people who barely know me are friendly and warm with me.

Though it doesn’t make me wonder, actually, because in a sense we are colleagues even though we work in different businesses. But we also get along. WE talk, and we form community. We speak about our lives and share stories and joke. We share sadness and we uplift each other.

Every now and then I interact with some of the contractors who help maintain this building whenever I request their help. We’ve gotten to know each other and are more relaxed. It’s more community. It’s the same with the facilitators who work here. We talk, we take interest in what we each go through. But we also get the work done. I’m there to assist where I can and so are they.

My contract is coming to an end soon and I’m not looking forward to the possibility that I won’t be here. I like who I work with, and I like the people I interact with. I like being part of a team, but I also like being part of a community. I like this community and I feel accepted, and it’s wonderful. I don’t feel like an outsider. But if I’m gone, that community changes. These people lose someone they like and are happy to work with, and I lose a space where I get to feel accepted. It changes.

Community isn’t necessarily a stable thing, of course, but it takes a long time to build and not much to break. It has familiarity, and that acceptance of familiarity and willingness to be part of it. It takes time and it’s not always operating optimally, but it’s one of the most wonderful things when done well. Looking after each other, taking an interest in people, and being reliable and accountable. And it’s going to be sad once I’m gone, because the community here will change once more, and that’ll be that.