Many people will tell you that workplace romances are a bad idea -- and I've confirmed that the hard way. But I never thought platonic work friendships would have the same problems.

As long as relationships don't turn sexual, no one gets hurt, right?

That's another lesson learned, even recently. A colleague and -- I thought -- friend blabbed about something I told her in confidence. Then another co-worker was upset that I wasn't more interested in his personal life. It hit me that these people really are just work pals, not people to be trusted with personal information.

I spend the majority of my week at work, as I have been doing since I graduated from college.

With so much time in the same place, it's hard to avoid becoming friendly. I am also not deaf to the gossip that naturally arises in a workplace, nor the relationships -- platonic and otherwise -- that develop.

Except for the cat lady in the dark cube, we're all basically social people who enjoy stimulation to get through the day. That congeniality makes work less miserable and also can make projects go more smoothly.

Cracking jokes, commiserating about the lack of opportunity and catching up on life outside of work are all part of the day.

Being an open book, I always manage to take the situation too far and share too many details about my personal life. Does my co-worker really need to know I just had a fight with my husband? Does he need to know that I really want to get a raise?

It's one thing to have a lunch pal at work, but should the relationship stop at 5 p.m.?

It's hard to spend so much time with people and not get close to some of them. When I click with someone I've worked with for years, then there is nothing wrong with being myself.

The trick is to be my professional self. I can be relaxed and fun, but not too honest about topics I know might set me up for an uncomfortable situation.

The "trusty" girl down the hall may later be the first to point out that I came into work late two days in a row and ask loudly if I'm wearing a suit for a job interview.

Many times, trusting my colleagues hasn't been a problem, but that's what my husband and real friends are for.

Going out to lunch is fine. Even a work happy hour is doable. But weekend gatherings are just not worth it. It might be good for teambuilding to throw back a few beers with my cubemates, but inevitably we run out of things to say and it turns personal.

Suddenly I'm talking about wanting to have babies, and the next day at work one of the women asks all-too-conspicuously, "So, are you trying to get pregnant?"

No matter what the situation, I'm learning to keep my mouth shut when the conversation extends beyond the professional. If I don't want my boss to hear what I'm saying, then I shouldn't say it to anyone at work, even the ones I think I can trust.

So sign me up for the mandatory holiday gathering, but don't expect to see me at my work buddy's son's pool party. My bikini -- like all my intimate details -- are now off-limits to my co-workers.

Laura Lewis is an adventurous newlywed who has loved, lost and doesn't mind sharing. Her column appears every other Thursday.