How to make new friends

[valeriedl]

What's a good way to make new friends?

I live in the country and don't have any public transportation so it's not easy to get around.

My husband really isn't a social person. When we go to the store he wants to go in get what we need then leave. If we go to a fast food restaurant we usually get the stuff to go. If we do go somewhere and he doesn't like it we never go back, he doesn't give it a second shot to see if it's better the next time around.

He plays drums and this evening there was a local bar that has people who play instruments come and play together. It was canceled but we didn't know that till we got there. So I asked if he wanted to stay for a while any way but he said that he'd just go home and play his own drums.

I'm not a religious person at all so I really don't want to go to religious events and be asked to come to services all the time.

My friends (if you want to call some of them that any more) all live about an hour away with full time jobs and families. We try to talk on the phone and get together, they have to come see me, as we can but it's not that often. One of my friends lives 10 hours away and comes home a few times a year for about 2 weeks each time. We get together at least 3 times when she's home. However this last time I got blown off for New Kids on the Block (don't get me started on this or we might have to move the post to the padded room!)

My cousins are all a good bit older, with families and full time jobs, or younger and still in school. They also live a good bit away. Plus family 'friends' aren't really the same as regular friends.

It's just frustrating because I want to get out there and meet new people but I don't know how.

 

[RobinN]

Seems like there needs to be a bit of a compromise between what your husbands needs are and yours. Make a point to get your needs met. I bet he will admire you for speaking up

 

[RobinN]

Might I also suggest MeetUp.com

 

[Nakamova]

Are there any volunteer groups you could join? Or clubs/activity groups? (biking, hiking, birdwatching, knitting, continuing ed classes, etc..)

 

[valeriedl]

Might I also suggest MeetUp.com

Thanks. I checked out the website but there were only a few local things and everything were things that I wouldn't be involved in. Groups for business owners and political groups for example. Everything else was about 45 minutes away and wouldn't be easy to get too.

Are there any volunteer groups you could join? Or clubs/activity groups? (biking, hiking, birdwatching, knitting, continuing ed classes, etc..)

I did volunteer with the local fire department. They had fundraiser breakfasts every month and I waitressed there but ended up quitting because of the way things were ran. They had little kids (under 10) playing in the garbage then setting tables. They were filling coffee cups for people but they could barely carry the coffee pot, they were spilling coffee all over the place. No one would listen to what a lot of people, and myself, had to say about it but they didn't care. So I quit helping.

I've thought about volunteering at a local nursing home but I don't think I'd be able to handle that too well. There would be people that were passing away there a good bit and I know I'd be having seizures because of that. I do help at Christmas time when Santa comes (who's my dad) and help them open presents.

Do you know of a good way to find volunteer groups or clubs/activity groups?

 

[Nakamova]

Maybe something like this:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/index.jsp?r=msa&l=16141