At a crossroads...where can I meet new people?

Question

I feel like I'm at an in-between stage of my life. I'm almost 30, and the whole bar scene has gotten really old. I still have friends my age who go out every weekend but it's not my thing anymore. I hate to lose them as friends but we're growing apart. I still talk to them, for example we do "daytime things" like go for coffee or shopping, but when it comes to nightime all they want to do is go out and get drunk.

On the other hand my "married with kids" friends are, well, married with kids. Whenever we get together I feel like the odd ball out and the conversation is always centered around kids. Does anyone else feel this way? Where can I meet people my age who enjoy doing "grown up things"?

Answer 1

There are lots of organizations you can join, clubs, associations, charities, educational classes... etc.  Here are some suggestions:

Church

"Friends of the Library" group (helps raise money for the library)

Community Continuing Educational classes (usually you get a flyer/brochure in the mail), they have classes in ALL sorts of interests and even sports

Boys & Girls clubs, Scouts (they need volunteers, and you can meet not only the kids, but their parents)

Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization

Camera/Photography club... or other "special interest" clubs

Habitat for Humanity... ALWAYS needs volunteers, even in small communities, like ours!

Local Animal Shelters/humane societies... not necessarily to clean cages, but they need people to PLAY and WALK the dogs... and raise funds for them.

If you call your town/city hall, or the "Dept of Family Services," even your Chamber of Commerce, they can have LOADS of ideas, organizations that you can belong to, charitable or otherwise.  Your local newspaper also will know of clubs and organizations that might interest you.  Check the "Volunteering In America" website link below for LOADS of other groups/organizations/ideas!

GOOD LUCK!!

Have a polite day.