How do we make friends as adults?

I work from home, finished up grad school and never made a friend in college. I'm feeling lonely and unfortunately, being chronically online doesn't help. I'm far past my social anxiety and am at a point where I don't really care much for what people think, which actually doesn't seem to be helping me to make friends either.

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redredred · M

Step one. Decide what interests you. Do you like the outdoors? Gardening? Skydiving? Swimming?
Step two. Find a group or a club or a venue where such activities are common or are are dedicated to it
Step three. Join up, go to meetings or on hikes or whatever the group likes to do.

I have an old friend who loves golf. He joined a local (not fancy) country club specifically to find a girlfriend who also liked golf. He did! They’ve been married for years and he never gets an argument when he wants to go play golf.

GuyWithOpinions · 31-35, M

@redredred there are friend finder apps for group activities and stuff. Idk if you have it in your region, but theres an app called "meetup". And its just like geoups of people that go for hikes or talk about books or online events, city events in your area etc..

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@GuyWithOpinions meetup is an area dependent journey. Like around here it's just boring groups that get together. The socializing is cliqueish. No interest from me here. I think depending on where you live it's hit or miss.

GuyWithOpinions · 31-35, M

@Gibbon someone could always start there own group with a new idea.

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@GuyWithOpinions Yup. I'm just saying around here it would get the same results. The area and people drive it's success. Understand this a very rural area. Everyone is very friendly passing by or in the stores But a first time group of strangers together shyness seems to set in for those that don't already know someone there. Curiosity in approaching someone new didn't seem to exist even for me. But in my defense I was grief broken. Trying but not interested.