Core Network and Work Network

I often have a difficult time differentiating between people who are nice to me because they are nice to ME, and people who are nice because they want something. I'm often disappointed when I realize they fall only into the latter category, and can be quite nasty when they cannot use me. I like being liked, and am not a very tough cookie when not liked - i.e. it hurts. But even more than my craving to be liked is my craving not to be "used", so with every job, I've piled up a set of people with whom I dont get along. The best way to find out whether people really like you in your job is to experience their reactions when you quit. It shows who is in your "core network" and who is just there, friendly or not, because they want something. Core people stay - through various jobs. Work people leave. And it's quite transparent in their reactions to the news of a departure. An honest "oh no!" feels honest, the rest don't even often bother to react. Or if it's expressed face-to-face, one set will give you a hug, the other set somehow freeze over right there and then. So, when meeting people, you rarely know whom you can count on. When leaving people, it's quite clear. Strange just HOW clear.