To ask if you're 50 or over, what clubs/groups you go to?

[Zippyzoppy]

Dear Mumsnet Hivemind
I am staring down the barrel of empty nest syndrome, with 2 lovely well balanced teenagers, who just don't need my input as much as they used to. I imagine that in a couple of years they will both be at uni, and I will be well and truly bored!!

Myself and DP do spend time together, but he has a hobby which isn't my cup of tea and I am looking to find an interest to entertain myself. The problem is my 2 current interests (cryptic crosswords and gardening) don't really lend themselves to social based groups, so I am looking for something new to try.

So, please would you let me know what you do of your evenings/weekends that involve meeting other people but that are not sports based!

TIA

Zippy

I sing with a community choir. Non-auditioning, and I could barely raise my voice above a whisper at first. Hit a random selection of notes, too. But I've improved hugely, my range has extended, I'm fairly tuneful, and I can usually sing the harmonies even when sitting next to another section. Great fun!

slimming world!!

Gosh this is a difficult one! My mum joined the WI and went to Church. I went yoga and Pilates but not a very sociable bunch!
Meet up with friends and family on a regular basis.

How about Lady Taveners very sociable bunch.

A book reading group? SomE a very sociable and friendly outside the actual meeting. Others aren't!

Red hat society is meant to be fun or look on Meet up for local groups.

Volunteering - various groups
Walking Group (very sociable)
Gardening Club (lots of talks and visits)
National Trust Association - different regions have them, look on internet (lots of trips out, talks and annual meals)
Choir (can't sing a note but try)
Socialising groups (cardplaying, shopping trips, parties and various seasonal activities we arrange)

Nearly 50 - yoga, Pilates (so not sporty at all but good for my aging joints) and ceramics. Also love walking and thinking of joining a walking club - a gentle walking club!

Ceroc or any kind of modern jive. Dance classes in general tbh.
Do you have a local community centre? Often there's lots going on there.
Also take a look in local free papers as they often have hobbies and social groups advertised.

I have retired very early but my dh still at work and will be for next 10 years. I go to the gym two or three times a week. I never thought I would as I am not vey fit but they have a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi so I do light exercise twice a week e.g walking on machine, recumbent bike etc. for about 40 mins then swim a bit maybe 20 mins then go in steam room and jacuzzi. I have met several people who also go on their own and we sometimes have coffee together afterwards. I also do a gentle tone up class for 40 mins once each week and again go into jacuzzi after to relax. The same people tend to go each week so you do get to know people and chat and coffee after. I walk the dogs each afternoon unless raining. I Have a foster child who is really good at cricket and we take him to play in summer and go to a few social events there like barbeque, got a halloween do soon, Christmas dinner etc. I have also got netflix and enjoy watching a film or drama on my own in afternoon. I occasionally meet friends who I used to work with but only about 3 or 4 times each year. My daughter is on maternity leave so i often spend a Friday with daughter and grandson and baby. Instead of shopping on internet now I am home and not working I go into town and look around shops to choose gifts etc. I go to National Trust with a friend occasionally when she is on leave form work. They sometimes have special events on. I do the odd crossword and skype my older sister if i get stuck on clues as she is better than me. I cook more than I used to including baking and dh appreciates this and I bake for events at foster child's school for fund raising. My eldest son works shifts and so we will sometimes go for a lunch time meal my treat if he is on late shift. I am thinking of joining University of Third age as I note they have a bridge club and welcome beginners. Think about what you like doing and you just have to make the effort. Most of my friends still work so I can't meet them for lunch unless they are on leave. I wish one of them would retire early also as then we could do mid week breaks. I would love to go to see the tulips for example but not really much fun on your own. I do sometimes go to see my two sisters who live about 120 miles away and stay overnight and we have lunch out, take flowers to parents grave etc. At weekends my dh is around and we find plenty to do together.

Dog walking group- once a month (some people don't have a dog atm but like to fuss everyone else's)
Live music - often
Pub quiz- once a fortnight
Local adult learning in our area has courses like sugar craft, floristry, art and upholstery.

Not 50 yet got a couple of years to go but I recently joined rock choir and love it, would definitely recommend

Book club

Swimming (sorry sporty and not as such a club!)

Maybe adult Ed, eg learn a language?

I belong to National Trust and noted Stoneofdestiny suggested Association of NT groups. I just looked into that in my area they visits on bus or car to different NT properties, lectures over winter months, coffee mornings with second hand book and plants sale. Special events such as outings to theatre, shopping centres or meals. They also have something called ambles and rambles which an amble is 4-5 mile gentle walk midweek and ramble is 6-8 mile walk on a Saturday. They also do holidays for 4-5 days three times each year which look a bit pricey but lovely itinery. I am going to join. As OP likes gardening a lot of NT properties have fabulous gardens and she might like it too to meet other people with similar interest. Thanks for that idea stoneofdestiny.

caringcarer - no problem. Worth noting the annual subscription is very cheap for the local associations, but you pay for the bus trips.

Townswomen Guild
WI
U3A (University of the third age)

U3A

How have people got on with U3A if they have done any courses? What was it like? What courses did you do?

Gym
Bookclub
Toastmasters which is very sociable and fun.
I also love cryptic crosswords and gardening.
I always thought l would like a flower arranging club but haven't got around to it.
I also volunteer with a youth group.

Meet up - lots of different activities; Ramblers (start from about 4 miles, there are other walking groups for shorter distances in many places), tai chi, political party & activist groups. Have attended 'stitch & bitch' in the past but no time at the moment!

I work full time plus but also do a couple of book clubs, a sewing bee, a ladies lunch group and village coffee group. Plus I am a trustee of a charity, a school governor and we do a wine tasting group.

I usually go to a climbing club on a Tuesday or Thursday depending on my shifts ( someweeks I don't go if I'm on a couple of lates)
My in a group of mountain bikers. We try and do an evening and a couple of weekend days DP usually comes along. My film club is twice a month.
Apart from that, not much. I either hill/ mountain walk solo. I go to the pub with DP and friends. I go to the gym alone but meet up with friends for classes. I go to a lot of gigs each month, a mixture of going by myself, with friends, with my ( adult ) kids or DP,
I am 53

I have two DCs 19 and and 17, a DH and I work four days a week. I am in a book group (just friends, mostly sit in the pub and chat), I've been in Rock Choir for five years (love it), I am Secretary of local branch of Royal British Legion and attend meetings and help organise the Poppy Appeal, I was a Brownie Leader (they would love you to volunteer...), I swim few times a week (currently doing a charity Swim the Channel challenge).

Church Bellringing, very socialable, at my local tower our ages range from 40's-80.

Look up your local Rotary Club - very sociable and a way of giving something back to the community.