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

@pointythings I'm interested in your library volunteer role - what do you do?

VanillaSugary I don't do it yet - right now I have a full time job and two teenagers still at home, my days are too short! But having discussed it, library volunteers end up doing the stuff the staff have no time for - restocking shelves, helping with the computers, supporting craft and reading activities for children, helping library users find what they're looking for. It's a small branch and very friendly. They'd love to have me right now, but I just don't have the time.

I'm over 50 but fairly small DCs so some of these are from pre DCs:
Yoga/Pilates (go with friends or arrange to go out for coffee if there's a friend that goes).
Singing (if I start again I'll look for one that a) isn't serious and b) does a wide variety of music)
Volunteering (I am a Guider but considering whether I'll continue). I used to serve meals to the homeless and I'd definitely do that again.
Knitting - I go to a group (sadly DD can now report back that it's boring but can't yet knit)
Church
I also sew but not in a group.
And I've just started meeting up with feminists locally.

I'm not 50 yet, quite a way off actually. But I have plans!!!

I'm going to continue with Brownies, maybe taking a more active role or taking them on more holidays/days out. I might help with a guide/ranger unit as well so I can go on camps, maybe even international camps. So that's 2 evenings a week accounted for.

I'm planning on going back to my little amateurs orchestra too. We're not very good but we try, and we're a good friendly bunch as well.

I volunteer in the library helping people use a range of devices - tablets, laptops, computers, phones. It's really varied and completely administered by library staff - I just turn up. I teach people how to send emails, do job searches (really important due to swingeing local council and library cuts), apply for blue cards/bus passes, online shopping, digital photos, MS Office applications, etc, etc. I've now in my 5th year of doing it, and it is never boring! I do it 4 hours per week, for an hour per session.

Dog walking and agility (never been so fit), walking groups, reading, crosswords, gardening. I'm on the u3a committee but none of the groups float my boat - one day they might!

Where are all these areas that still have adult ed classes? None round here, nor where we moved from 120 miles away.

The Women's Institute is brilliant. Each group is different so try a few local ones to find one that suits you. At ours, we have a variety of speakers, have social evenings to make new friends and there are sub groups for books, craft and knitting! It's a mixed age group, with a variety of interests. We have recently yarnbombed our local town, gave out lonely bouquets to alleviate loneliness, made a wreath for remembrance day and held a wonderful fundraiser for the local Women's Refuge. You can join in larger county events, and there are national campaigns on key issues where the WI lobbies government on a range of issues from the environment, women's rights, saving bees, and equal pay. Forget the old fashioned image, the WI offers something for everyone and you can get involved as much or as little as you like.

I'm single (on purpose) and over 50. I'm a member of a naturist club. It's very safe, no pervs and the people are lovely. Most of the members are over 50 anyway.

I quite fancy the WI actually. My grandma was a member from when she was quite young and she did loads of interesting stuff with them. Or I might join the trefoil guild (a branch of guiding, a group specifically for the adults), because that's like guides for old ladies grown ups.

I've got a youngish child so I do lots of things to do with the school. I also do yoga, bellydance, running, writers' group and a course at my local WEA. Occasionally I'll do an online course (free) through Futurelearn too. Hoping at some point to find a rock choir/non-religious choir to join. Also want to join our local WI but my school involvement means that too many of the meetings clash to make this worthwhile at present.

I’m a member of a local book club. Also I love gardening and play the piano. My school has a allotment and my energetic fourth grade students help me look after it. I go down to the pub at night and talk to people. DH and I go for countryside walks too. I’ve been trying to find out if there is any flower arranging or trampolining club in my area. But no one can tell me anything.

U3A (university of the 3rd Age). Branches all over the country with various interest groups. Ours has 40 groups, eg local history, French conversation, art appreciation, Grumpy Old Women, ukelele, drawing, etc. Plus a monthly meeting with a guest speaker. Something for Everyone!

Allotment.
Tap dancing
Gin tasting once a month
Film group ( like a book group but for films)

I am 56 and still work full time but I have hobbies and am really looking forward to when I retire and spend even more time on them.

Currently my main pastime is music. I play an instrument and am in a community band and another music club. One evening a week and Saturday mornings revolve around music and then there are concerts etc. I know lots of people, including DH, who didn't take up an instrument until their 50s but now play well enough to play in a group. Failing that what about a choir?

My elder sister does loads with the Townswomen's Guild.

My other sister has done gardening volunteer holidays with NT.

I have also just got in to craft courses. Loads around. Try

@ShadyGrey No drumming experience before I joined, and it's all learned by repetition and practice. The one I'm part of is a Batala group, and there are a few in the UK, and may lose all over the world. We have chance to play with other bands at big carnivals and parades, and quite a lot of members play abroad, as all the bands learn the same tunes and it's all done with hand signals so everyone understands.

Our group is really sociable and we have members from 18 to their 70s. Most join with very little music experience, is from watching and enjoying the band. It's recruitment season how, so those joining now should be ready to play a gig by Easter.