All my friends are men

[Bigweekend]

I'm not really sure how I got here. I was married for 30 years, widowed for 2.

My main interests are sport, real ale and running. I was a decent runner when younger and still am for my age, so I've tended to train in groups that were predominantly male. This has always been a huge part of my life, most of my good friends are runners.

I also enjoy watching most sport and a beer festival or real ale pub. So most of the people I know through my interests are men. I know women can enjoy these things, I do, but I don't seem to meet them. Probably because see above re running.

When DH was alive this was not a problem. I did most of these things with him or in groups with my male friends (often DH too).

Now I'm single I have plenty of groups to hang out with, but no friends to be "close" to. To have a weekend away with for example. Obviously I'm not going with a married man and single ones seem to assume we'll be more than friends if we do anything 121.

Is mid 50s too late to find female friends? How? It's not that I have a preference for male friends, but that I've lived in such a way that I don't know many women!

So it is too late?

It's never too late!

There are lots of different things you could try. You could target activities which are more likely to be women-centred - try the WI, maybe, or just an exercise class that is more likely to attract women. Get involved with volunteering. I work in a very male-dominated environment, but I've made friends with women outside my work area through getting involved with activities run through the women's network. Go to a feminist conference.

I think Bumble (dating app) has a friends section - I've never used it, but it may be worth looking at things like that. Also look elsewhere online for local events and groups.

None of this will change things overnight. Some of these suggestions, you're probably thinking, "you must be bloody joking!" But that's okay, if it you're thinking, "well, I wouldn't be interested in that, but maybe if I looked at this thing which is more my style..." It might spark ideas for things which will work for you.