I'm surrounded by many people, many of them I met in my choir. People around me had quite some luck joining swing lessons too.
Maybe you could try something like this? Joining some dance, singing, drama, sport club, or some repair or activist community? In short, joining some group of people who share a common activity or common ideas / ideals? It also gives some easy starting point for discussions beside the weather.
What works really well in my choir is that besides people being here also to meet new people, after rehearsal many of us stay/gather at a place where you can drink or eat (but are not forced too, it's fine just hanging out without taking anything). Could also be related to computing, though while I love the activity, I'm happy to spend some time with people outside it discussing other stuff.
I have a lot of friends and I'm now quite self-confident, but I would be terrified to have to socialize with people in bars. Not to mention the noise. Unless most people are also specifically there to meet other people.
(edit: but yeah, that works in a city, if you are in a remote area it can be tough. But still.)
I'm surrounded by many people, many of them I met in my choir. People around me had quite some luck joining swing lessons too.
Maybe you could try something like this? Joining some dance, singing, drama, sport club, or some repair or activist community? In short, joining some group of people who share a common activity or common ideas / ideals? It also gives some easy starting point for discussions beside the weather. What works really well in my choir is that besides people being here also to meet new people, after rehearsal many of us stay/gather at a place where you can drink or eat (but are not forced too, it's fine just hanging out without taking anything). Could also be related to computing, though while I love the activity, I'm happy to spend some time with people outside it discussing other stuff.
I have a lot of friends and I'm now quite self-confident, but I would be terrified to have to socialize with people in bars. Not to mention the noise. Unless most people are also specifically there to meet other people.
(edit: but yeah, that works in a city, if you are in a remote area it can be tough. But still.)
(not in the US)