how do you meet new people?

[caitycaity]

in the past year most of my friends that live in this area have moved far away and i am so lonely. the only person i do anything with now is dh (not that that is bad, but it would be nice to have some girl friends too).

i am not religious, so i can't meet people at church, and due to recent layoffs i am the youngest person at my job by about 10-15 years.

anyone have any ideas?

 

[tiggerlover]

Do you have any children? Of so you can join playgroups or if you have school age children you can meet people through school activities. If you don't have children what about volunteering in your community or joining a club or bowling league?

 

[JAP]

DH and I play lots of sports. That is how we have made many friends. From there is usually shots off in one direction or the other.

Do not discount some of the older people you work with. I have made many good friends with women that were about 10-15 years older than I. Those women have also introduced me to people that were about my age as well.

Good luck and I will be your friend!

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Well Caity, we could have a D.C. area mini-meet someday, but I'd guess that most of us DIS locals are at least 10 years older than you are! I bet we're almost as fun as you spring chickens.

 

[caitycaity]

LOL, sorry, i did not mean to imply that people 10-15 years older thanme were old and boring. the people here that i work with just don't have the same interests i do, and most of them have kids (i don't) so they don't have a lot of free time.

volunteering is a good idea.

i'm open to any other ideas any of you might have.

 

[gina2000]

Take a class at a local university.

Join a reading group.

Take a cooking class.

None of these may lead to a lifelong friendship, but you'll be active, busy and hopefully doing something you like!

 

[kejoda]

So what are your interests? Are their any community classes you can take/ Or maybe a exersice place? Reading group? I could go on for days.

 

[antnee]

maybe going to a DIS Meet might help you make friends with similiar interests

 

[caitycaity]

joining a reading group sounds like fun (i like to read) but how do you find out about one?

gina -- i will hopefully be starting a master's program next fall, so maybe i will meet some people there.

 

[kejoda]

caity try the library or a bookstore like Barnes and Noble.

 

[aprincessmom]

caity,
I was going to suggest joining a book club. Our local library sponsors a couple as do a few of our local book stores.

I know this might sound crazy but do you get Cooking Light. They have a section for supper clubs that get together and cook once a month. It's great fun and they have tons of people who do them.

Also consider joining or becoming active in your college or university's local alumni club. Many have young alum groups to help with the lifestyle differences that sometimes come from age

 

[Buckalew]

Caity,
Aren't we ENOUGH?? LOL
{{{hugs}}} from a far away friend.

 

[caitycaity]

LOL, buckalew.

thanks for the book club suggestion -- i think i'm going to look into that. i haven't been to the local public library since we moved here. it's probably time i took a field trip.

apm, i have seen cooking light in the checkout line before, but have never flipped through one -- i'll have to check it out. thanks.

i am somewhat active in my alumni organization (actually i am going to a lunch with them on friday), but the people who go to them are usually the "usual suspects" and people that i don't really get along with too well. long story short, student government politics.

 

[Boots]

Get a local newspaper and look for club you might be interested in. A book review, sewing club, exercise group,etc. You could do volunteer work at a hospital, preschool, or something similar. If you have the money you could take a class at a community college. DD says I could begin a conversation with a fence post and get along with it!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Our local weekly paper lists activities at our community center, as well as non-religious activities that might be going on at churches, synagoges, etc. I'm sure if you pick up a local paper you'll find some great ideas!

 

[Deb in IA]

Be a volunteer.

Meals on Wheels, Big Brother/Sister, any United Way agency, your local animal shelter, etc, etc, etc

 

[Keli]

I'm the kind of person that isn't happy unless I have a lot of friends and my best tip is to work at being friendly. When I'm on the lookout for friends I tend to make friends from places I hadn't anticipated.
I like to meet people through my hobbies (you have the added benefit of having something in common right off the bat). I take community classes in things I enjoy doing (scrapbooking is a big one).
Of course if you are getting ready to attend some classes you will meet lots of folks, I know I never would have known half the friends I do if I hadn't met them taking college courses at night (nothing like partners in misery when getting ready for big exams to draw folks togehter, lol).
Also one of my best friends is a neighbor I met when we moved to this house.
Quite frankly though, it's a lot easier to meet people when you have kids. You are forever being thrown together with folks you don't know very well. After a few PTO meetings, soccer games, waiting in the parking lot for various clubs to finish meeting you end up knowing many of the other parents very well. After a while I find I'm calling them or visiting with them when it has nothing to do with our kids.

 

[tc]

Outside of church, most of the people I know of from the local community theater. Even if you don't want to act, there are a ton of stuff that they need done. Lighting, sets, costuming, advertisment, envelope stuffing, ushering (usually getting free tickets), run the box office, etc. Most theater people are outgoing and fun. Just a suggestion.