Friendship 'groups' locally

[Butterworthbees]

I feel a bit like a teenager writing this but here goes.

I have a few close friends which I've picked up from various places, school, uni, work etc and I get on with them well, we meet up maybe up to 4x a year ish and pick up where we left off all good. But I'm starting to feel a bit frustrated as all these close friends seem to have a 'group' of close buddies who all live nearby to them, they go on holidays, meet for dinner/coffee regularly do group birthdays etc I am honestly really happy for them and not so much looking to join their groups as they live far away but I guess it makes me feel a bit sad and lonely that I don't have a local 'group' of real buddies of my own who I can have a laugh with, be honest with see each other's messy houses with no judgement kind of buddies

I can often go months with no-one texting me to see how I am and sometimes feel I am the one doing all the initiating.

I'm a woman in my thirties, married no DC yet (ttc) and feeling a bit of craving for a local group who I can see regularly and you know just have some mutual support/laughs with y'know. Some people who not already too busy with established group and might actually have time and space for a real friend not just another aquantaince.

Is this unrealistic - how do I, without being weird, go about finding some likeminded local people who want to be my friend

[RedMapleLeaf]

I have three words for you - Google "Meet Up".

[RedMapleLeaf]

Ok, I found a few more words for you.

A couple of years ago I found myself in a similar situation. Early thirties, career sorted, long term relationship sorted and I suddenly looked around to realise that my closest friends from school or Uni all lived miles away and we hadn't been in touch properly for ages. I wanted mates for general socialising. I wanted female companionship. So, I joined a women's only MeetUp group and fixed a few social events each month. A few of us really clicked and we have all been there for each other through some of life's trickier twists and turns. They are absolutely my best friends now and I feel so lucky to have them in my life.

[Pearl372]

Yes I'm in several "meet up" groups brilliant way to meet people.
Check it out, you won't regret it.
There are numerous groups you could join, with varied interests.
I'm in several outdoor / walking groups, we have weekends away etc.
Great variety of characters in the groups.
Lots of laughs.