Towns can be lonely places

In all manner of ways.

Most do via hobby, sports and social clubs; voluntary organisations including churches, charities and museums etc., and/or local public events like lectures and music recitals.

Many such also do use the Internet but constructively, to learn of such organisations and events, and discuss shared interests.

I belong to various societies that all use their own web-sites and e-post round-robins to keep members in touch, announce events and facilitate formal and informal meetings. Plus I use general fora dedicated to their interests more publicly.

While some of the public events I attend - lectures and occasional performances - are advertised in my local newspaper. (Though sadly, after the 'Newsquest' group who publish it was taken over by some American outfit appropriately called 'Gannet', its value for local news and events has dropped significantly.)

Am I somehow unique or unusual in this? No!

I belong to a Meetup and FB group that does events. Other than that...

The traditional ways: gym, choir, folk group, church, volunteering, poetry groups, political groups. They are out there still.

Meetup was really good for me. Volunteering. Maybe at the bar.

join some sort of social group i imagine.

parks are good

Church, community center, volunteer positions (I adore those jobs, you can feel so Uber righteous as a volunteer) and if people treat you badly, you can sometimes f them up as revenge then say "Piss me off, and I'll make your life hell"

Get a puppy, preferably a "Floofy butt" (Husky/Malamute) type or retriever. Girls DIG puppies. But make sure YOU are a decent enough person. Don't have hang ups, take mental health drugs or do narcotics.

You can attend church without believing, after all 50-75% of the congregation is likely hypocritical of religion anyway. Is a great facade to hide behind.

We're not communists. We're having this alienated, short sick uneasy life to prove that nobody can be a socialist community or we'll kill them. We're winning.