Has anyone ever made good friends through MeetUp.com?

[Blue82]

I moved to a new city a year ago. I’d hoped I’d make some close friends through work, and while everyone there is lovely, people commute massive distances and so the friendships I’d been hoping for just didn’t happen as it’s almost impossible for people to do things after work or at weekends.

I have met new people through some social events but I guess no one is really looking for new close friends in their mid 30s?

We don’t have DC so no chance of making friends through children.

I saw meetup.com thanks to the thread on here the other day; has anyone used it successfully?

I think you have a better chance of it working in a city. I tried when I lived in a more suburban area and the problem was that the people in the only "local" group near me were very dispersed and the "local" activities were all over the place.

I have. I'm in my 50s, and came back to my hometown to care for my Dad. I'd lost touch with most of the people I knew before moving away. so joined a few Meetup groups to get me out of the house and have something to do. Some groups (and people) were for me, some weren't, but I gained a new circle of friends and acquaintances pretty easily. I'd recommend giving it a go :)

I did , we meet outside of the main group and have done a few hols together. I was divorced mid 40s and went along to widen my social circle- one of the best things I've done. The groups can be a bit hit and miss and I had to persevere.

Thank you. I’m really feeling it this weekend. All my friends from back home are out and about and I’m just feeling a bit lonely.

Bank holiday weekends can be a bit grim and I hope you find yourself some good groups.

Yup, went to one meetup and met my lovely friend D, go to lots of things together and she’s a fab person. Def worth a try, you never know who you might meet, I don’t live in a big city either.
You could always make your own group for people with similar interests

I haven't but have a friend who's had to move a few times for work, and she definitely has. It took a while but not forever. She also found film clubs and other groups by looking at websites of local cinemas, leisure-type centres. Another friend met more people by volunteering with a local theatre group and joining a knitting class, has become quite fashionable in the last few years so a good range of people.

Sometimes doing something is easier than just general socialising as breaks the ice more easily. Also could look for walking groups, sometimes local councils list local clubs/groups, have been checking this stuff out as may move across the country in the next year or so, so wanted to find out what activities places had to offer. Also found a lot by looking up the area via a Twitter search.

I went to a meetup.com group and found it very cliquey and to be honest, a bit bitchy. However I have friends who I've met in the gym and am quite friendly with two of my neighbors and a couple of former work colleagues after getting back in touch on Facebook.