Non-baby talk

So I've been meeting more and more neighbors the past week. The couple that lived across the stairs moved out a week and a half ago. They knew most people in our neck of the complex. I was going to ride their coattails to meet folks... but I've been getting opportunities of my own.

• There's Jersey downstairs who lives with his mom. He's a young guy who dresses gothic. He actually stopped to talk recently. So we're making progress.
• Then there's another neighbor with whom I had my first conversation where he was sober and without beer in his hand. He may be getting a full-time job as on-site maintenance guy at a 250 apt complex in Santa Ana. He's been working random construction jobs the past 2.5 years so long as they are near the train stops and within one bus ride (He had one too many DUI's and had license revoked... he may get it back early though). He lives with his girlfriend. His son Johnny (from previous marriage) visits every so often.
• Dennis lives downstairs from John. He's divorced and his daughter lives with him and his dog Nacho.
• Just met Daniel who has divorced for quite some time. His daughter just turned 18 and has a new apt in Riverside. His 20-yr old son Ryan lives with him. Daniel works at local motorcycle dealership and often commutes on his dual-sport motorcycle. He opened up to me pretty quickly about his dating woes. He's a pretty mellow guy.
• Also just met Jordan down the way. He has a SV650 motorcycle and a nice mountain bike.
  
• Finally, there is Cooper. Nice guy who lives a couple of doors down. He's got a familiar looking face... it may be because he is in a Cox Communications commercial. Ha!

Anyhow, this past Friday I was asking John about the local bike paths. Since he doesn't drive, he bikes often. I was looking for a connection from a path out of our complex up to a trail that eventually goes the ocean. At any rate, John refers me to Cooper. Cooper encourages me to get on my bike right now so he can show me the trail. Well after we started out, I realize that he's taking me on a mountain bike trail instead. I don't have a mountain bike. I don't have a street bicycle either... I guess it's a hybrid. Sits like a mountain bike, but doesn't have shocks or the big nobby tires. It's good on the paved and well-packed dirt bicycle trails.

I had a blast. It wasn't too treacherous... no dodging branches along the trail or any crazy inclines/declines. But it was thrilling with the speed and lack of definitive traction. It was a good workout.

I saw Cooper as I was returning from my instigated conversation with Daniel. Cooper said, "get ready and we'll go riding again." So I did. I was a little more comfortable this time and made mental notes of the path and turns so that I could do it again in his absence. Hoping to ride with co-worker Leo on occasion.

I may just suspend my gym membership (which I basically got for racquetball use... but since Bob moved out of state, I haven't really played). =)

Looking forward to seeing where these relationships go.