Some of your newer acquaintances are going to be in your life for quite a long while, so make sure you start things off on the right foot. Even if you have plans for a major change soon, don’t expect much of a change in the cast of characters around you. Getting to know someone is an art form you’ve mastered. Today, put in some time to make this tenuous new connection more solid. It’s as easy as asking questions and listening to the answers.

Add a personal touch to really kick-start a romance. Try sending an old-fashioned note (you know, the kind with stamps) instead of an e-mail or DM. Try making dinner instead of just ordering takeout.

Healthy relationships are all about communication, but your communication need not always have a distinct point. Idle chitchat, wild speculation, and non sequiturs are all ways of sharing too.

Scrutinize new friends just as carefully as you would legal or financial documents. Otherwise, things could blow up in your faces. Give them the once over, to avoid future upheaval.