New friends

[thebluehen]

I'm 50 and just left a 16 year relationship.

I brought up his 4 kids, spent every weekend with his family and his friends (couples that were all friends before I came along). My partner was controlling and I didn't see how damaging all this was.

I have a few friends but not people I can regularly go to dinner with or out for the day like his friends were. I have no family at all so friends are all I'm going to have.

I am already a member of a running club, so that gives me a bit of a social life but I'm going to need more.

I don't really like the idea of book clubs or crafting so those aren't options.

I also work part time from home, so that compounds the problem.

I live in a rural area so meetup.com doesn't have anything within 30 miles.

Suggestions please?

No, they were his.

Yes, and I have still have them. I will build up those relationships but people have changed and evolved themselves and those friendships aren't going to be enough.

Good for you OP - reaching out for new connections is hard but so worthwhile. I am similar to you in that i don't like book clubs or crafting in theory (I love reading but don't like to have to read a book not of my choosing, and I'm not a crafty person) BUT I've done both of these in my adult friend- making endeavours! As I mainly am just there for the friends, and the activity is secondary. I found I've been able to enjoy the activities themselves too mostly. Go for everything where you could possibly meet people - you don't have many options if you're rural. Good luck!

Yes, a job change is an option in the future but not something I can cope with right now.

I have volunteered in the past but it tends to be older people and ideally I'd like to meet people who are a similar age to me. I'll have a look at weekend volunteering though, maybe that's a better option.

It's early days with the kids. They are all adults now. . One of them my partner and I barely had contact with, one hasn't taken well to me leaving, one is devastated at me leaving and definitely wants to keep in touch and I suspect the other is indifferent. I'm also not sure how I'm going to cope emotionally hearing all about my ex all the time.

Bloody hell, you are a saint!

Choir?
Hiking?
Local history groups?
Peanut?
Wild swimming?

Have you got a local amdram group? They're usually very sociable and mixed ages. They also need non- performing helpers too if you don't like that side