Unsure.

This post is sort of two in one, I'm not sure they are directly linked but I feel they link through the fact I find people hard to read, and I find boundaries tough to understand. They are linked because they involve me changing jobs.

I recently mentioned to a colleague who didn't know I was leaving within ear shot of two professionals who where visiting my job. They have various fields and I have interacted with one previously, although one had just met me and only had a snap shot of my work. Both where vocally dismayed that I was leaving, the gent I had only just met very annoyed that I was leaving my current field and he felt it was a loss (boy this makes me sound great, doesn't it?).

My problem, if you will, is that I am unsure as to whether they are being polite or if they will genuinely miss me and believe I am a loss to my professional field. Many people I have come into contact with have wished me well and say that it is a shame I am leaving. Some of the girls do believe my leaving will take away my fairness and kindness, but for two professionals who I would rarely work with to think I am a loss is flattering, but can I take them as genuine? I don't know, I would like to think it was, but I believe it rude and immodest, to enquire further about how great one is from semi-strangers. Praise from Cesar is praise indeed, but solicited praise is no praise at all. The unhelpful answer froma  friend is they where being polite, so I guess that is the intent.

Link to this is I need to go meet my new boss, but I don't know what is appropriate. I am unsure of the boundaries, is it too full on to ask for coffee, or am I too shy if i don't contact him. Luckily I have some advice from a professional support base (who aren't my nurses) and I think I've gauged it right.

Here's hoping......