How do you make friends in your 30s without joining a running club?
Starting again in a new town and everyone seems to have their people already.
I don’t want to run. I want to get a coffee, have a wander and send someone a photo of a weird lamp.
Where are we all finding each other?
The chat 7
The thing that helped me was going to the same small thing regularly. Not a huge “make friends” event—just a weekly class where you slowly stop having to introduce yourself. The coffee afterwards does most of the work.
Board-game cafés often have open evenings. Having something to do with your hands really helps with the awkward first bit. Also, significantly less running.
This is harder than people admit. Everyone says “just put yourself out there” as though you can stand by the bins with a sign. You’re definitely not the only one starting again.
Thank you, especially for the bins image. There’s a bookshop near me that does an evening group. I’ve walked past the poster about nine times. Might actually ask about it this week.
@newgirlbigcoatThank you, especially for the bins image. There’s a bookshop near me that does an evening group. I’ve walked past the poster about nine times. Might actually ask about it this week.
That sounds ideal. Ask what they’re reading before you go—then you’ve already got your first conversation sorted.
@kettleonjudgementoffThat sounds ideal. Ask what they’re reading before you go—then you’ve already got your first conversation sorted.
I’ve emailed them. Small step for mankind, enormous step for a woman who rehearses asking for a carrier bag.
@newgirlbigcoat Ask! You only have to go once before deciding whether it’s for you. And please report back, because I’m currently in the “saving events and attending none of them” stage.
You’ve definitely got an opinion.
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