I spent this past weekend reuniting with my college girls in Washington D.C. and it was absolutely fabulous. We spent our days looking through pictures, eating Oreo’s and hanging out and our evenings drinking and dancing at various bars around town. It was just like college, except for one major difference.

One night as I was making my way to the bar to re-stock on some Amstel Light, a tall lad struck up conversation with me. We talked as we waiting in the monstrous line and even after we had procured our drinks of choice. He was cute – tall, dark, good jeans – and I was really enjoying his company. But, even being six drinks in, I knew better than to go home with him when he asked.

I didn’t know who this guy was or what his intentions were. I didn’t know where he lived or what his name was, even!

Therein lies the difference between College Lauren and Post College Lauren.

If I were still in school I would have gone home with that boy in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t have considered the fact that he could be dangerous, he could have STD’s or that anything bad could come from the situation at all. I would have trusted him because he was on my campus – in my little bubble – and why wouldn’t I?

And I know I was not the only one doing that.

Now that my bubble is no longer exists and I don’t have that (false) sense of security anymore, I am a much more careful person. I can’t just trust anyone. And I am beginning to realize that I probably never could. I look back at my college track record and can now see that I survived those four years without any serious complications based on luck and luck alone. Just because some dude shows up at my college bar doesn’t mean he is safe. And just because I may know him through other people doesn’t mean that I can’t get a serious disease or, gulp, pregnant.

It was so easy to justify my actions while I was back in school and make it seem like the guy wasn’t that random. But he was. And it just wasn’t safe. Being on a college campus doesn’t make things better, no matter how much we want to believe it.

Besides, taking a man friend home means missing out on late night dance parties and pizza with the girls. And having had the opportunity to engage in both again this weekend reminds me just how amazing they really are.