Bumped into a friend at Metro last night who used to date an ex-housemate of mine. We were musing that in Perth, being the size that it is, the most degree of separations from one person to the next (at least in the Asian community anyway) was 3. That is:

me –> friend –> friend –> friend

But most of the time it’s only 2 degrees of separation:

me –> friend –> friend

The most obvious conclusion from this is that the opportunities for networking are smaller and your social circle would be limited.

But he brought up an interesting alternative point of view: that it is this very limitedness that makes it easy to meet new ppl. Because a friend would know so-and-so and he or she would know so-and-so. And I find myself agreeing with him. Through him, I met at least 4 new ppl last night and one of whom I clicked with enough who may become a friend of mine.

This may be an up-till-now unknown reason among many that I love Perth so much.

He also brought up something quite factual. That those who complain about the “incestuousness” of the social circles in Perth, and who then moved to Melbourne and Sydney end up transplating their small social circles here over there. Why? Because they end up hanging out with each other, doing the same thing etc. So really, their social circle is identical but set in a bigger city. How ironic.

It also reaffirms what I truly believe about what makes a city livable: the ppl you surround yourself with. Note that I said “city” – I am so not a country person.