Figure Out What You Like to Do, And Like-Minded Peers Will Emerge
Shared interests are one of the strongest foundations of any friendship. So, if you’re looking to make new friends in retirement, you’ll want to find people who like the same things you do. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Adopt a dog: If you and your dog are friendly, you’ll start talking with other dog owners naturally. Start going to the dog park regularly, and you’ll likely begin to make friends. Don’t want to leave it to chance? Try BarkHappy. It’s an app that helps you connect with nearby dogs and their owners to arrange meet-ups. Check out the app’s map for future doggy date ideas, which list dog-friendly businesses and local events that welcome pets.
- Join a club: No matter what you enjoy doing or what types of hobbies you have, you can find a local club to meet others like you.
- Try a Fun Part-Time Job: Remember lifeguarding as a teen? Grinding out long hours at a start-up? Waiting tables in college? If so, you also remember some good friends you made from those experiences. Work can help you establish friendships. And you don’t have to select a grueling job. Find something fun and low-key, like working at a nursery, and see what kinds of friends you make there.
- Volunteer: The shared goal of volunteering with a bunch of people can help you establish long and meaningful connections.
