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 met several new friends through aquaerobics at my local health club pool.
My language class (Cercle Français) is quite sociable. (But not as much as the Aqua ladies)

I'm.in my 50s, dc in their early 20s. I belong to 2 book groups, I'm a parish councillor and I go to the gym 3 x per week. I work full time so don't really have time to do anything else. I feel I've got the balance right

Book club for people who enjoy vintage GO books.

Djembe drumming group, community choir, art class and pilates.

My really good friend has recently moved cities and has used Meetup to really good effect -just to meet friends.

I belong to a group working for animal rights and promoting veganism.

Mine are all sport related, but how about volunteering at your local homeless shelter?

I'm in a hiking group of mostly retired 50+ people, and they have the most wonderful social lives. The hiking group is very friendly and lots of us are mates outside of it. Other members are in various choirs, music groups (loads of ukulele players!), photography, dance classes, art, community projects, book groups. They're always busy - just listening to them talk about their week is exhausting.

I also do a fair bit of volunteering, mainly a couple of support groups I run and they keep me pretty busy. Sometimes it's hard to fit it all in.

It's nice to have time to visit friends and have lunches/drinks without being in too much of a rush.

Good luck!

You could try:-
Volunteering at local hospital/charity shop
Gardening club
Patient panel at your local GP surgery
WI/Townswomens Guild
Bridge clubs
U3A
Volunteer at Food Bank
Local history group
You mention you like crosswords - is there a Scrabble/Wordgames/Boardgames group locally you might enjoy? (U3A might have details)
Pub Quiz nights

Hope you find this helpful.
Enjoy making the most of your free time

Join the WI. They have lots of subgroups so you can join in and try those that interest you. Some even have gardening groups who volunteer at community/hospital gardens. It's not "jam and Jerusalem" anymore!

I go to our village heritage society which has interesting talks once a month. I work full time but used to do cubs in my previous village and also cadets after I left the reserves. My friend has recently retired and has joined U3A. I did join our local Rural Institute a couple of years ago but felt I was far too young (I'm currently 57).

In our village, we also have a horticultural society, an environmental society, open adult badminton, Brownies and Rainbows, photography club, two craft groups, church Guild, golf club with social membership and events, as well as the Community Council and the Development Trust which are always looking for members. Lots of adult education available in the nearest town too, as well as gyms.

There's community gardening groups that do amazing work in my city. It's very sociable and skill-sharing. It wouldn't be my idea of fun, mind (but I appreciate the results)

Arts and activist groups have introduced me to people who have become great friends. Go for it!

Dowsing m jewellery and craft making and not really a club but quizzes

Garage sales/estate sales on weekends, then breakfast with buddies who go to that with me, Friday night supper out with extended (rotating group of) family, Bunco (card game) monthly, traveling around US, to UK once per year...and working.

I am not in that age bracket yet but just heard of something I so want to do when I retire.... be a volunteer at the coroners court to support family members and witnesses.

I am this age and stunned that people are suggesting U3A.Both DM (90) and DMIL (87) are keen members in their areas (150 miles apart).
Is U3A really suitable at 50?
gulpatbeinginthetwilightofmylife

What's U3A?

I googled U3A and there's no age limit.

volunteer at the local credit union
zumba
Pilates
library
gardening
meet friends for coffee/lunch once or twice a week
used to do a session at the local community cafe but have given that up-I found it a bit stressful - the great thing is you can try things but it's ok not to continue if something doesn't suit you

Some great ideas here. I'm going to try and find out about the local NT association in my area.

Feel free to keep the ideas coming.

I'm particularly interested in anyone who is in a gardening club - is it affiliated with a local park/garden, or do you go to each others gardens or what?!

TIA

This thread has made me feel sorry for my DP. He's nearly 50 (I'm younger) and our children are 7, 4 and 1, poor chap

OP - I'm in a garden club. We are affiliated to RHS. We have meetings once a month with a speaker on a variety of topics, then we go on trips to special gardens across the country, we have Christmas socials and open our gardens on Open Garden Events Day if we want, to raise mi eye for charity.

letthemeatcake tell me more about your drumming, it sounds fantastic! How much drumming experience have you had?

Some really interesting ideas here. I’m in awe of all you busy people who use your time constructively - I have good intentions but generally what happens is I get in from work and, well - and not a lot really!

This will be me in a few years - right now my DDs are 15 and 17 and they love to do things with us as a unit of 3 (after a very tough year I am widowed). Right now when they go out and do their thing, I write, bake and veg - daily life is pretty full on and I appreciate the rest.

However, I am already planning for when my nest is empty. I'll be volunteering at our local library (I already know the people there), joining the gym and carrying on with archery - going to shoots more frequently than I do now. I do also like my alone time though.

A Ladies Group (meetings with speakers and outings)
Gardening Club (similar but on a loosely gardening based theme)
Book Club
Craft Hour (stitch and bitch/catch up on local gossip. This one V. Popular)