Only the Beginning?

Being new to Colorado and having to make new friends, I've been thinking a lot about friendship. Girlfriends that is.
I'm not sure I will ever be old enough to figure this out; in fact, it may be more complicated than relationships with the opposite sex. I mean, you can always read "Men are From Mars, Women From Venus." What guide is there to understand other women? And to know when the friendship has taken hold, when you can show your hand, or even when it's over. Is it over when you haven't heard from her in days?in weeks? in months? Maybe she's busy dealing with her kids, her parents, her life. But how do you know? Are you supposed to read the tea leaves? Read between the texts? What if it's texts only? One 'friend' now only texts, and most recently -- asking for money. Really. Where does that leave me? Feels like that black hole between friendship and not. That fade away kind of ending; no fight, no drama, just no more contact. Until that fateful day when you run into each other (of course your hair is not done, no makeup on and in your gym clothes) and have that awkward hello. Or you pretend you don't see each other and head in the opposite direction. Either way, you're left with that sinking feeling in your stomach. That's why I'm rooting for a giant Facebook game for all -- so you'll always know where you stand. It's black and white: Friend or Defriended. It may not be pretty, but neither is ducking out of the grocery store like a fugitive pretending you didn't see your former friend.