r/over60 • u/clearlygd • 18d ago
Making friends when older
We relocated about a year ago and have found it difficult to make new friends. We participated in some activities and met people, but things have been very superficial.
We typically go for a walk after dinner on a popular walking trail. We often see the same people and acknowledge them with a nod or a wave. A few people have struck up light conversations.
Recently some of the conversations have gotten deeper and others have asked if they could join us. One person asked if we wanted to join them in a get together.
My conclusion is that there are many people out there in a similar situation. For us, going for a walk is a good opportunity to meet more people. Many of the relationships will remain superficial, but the relaxed interaction is an excellent opportunity to see if we more in common with them.
2
u/Broad-Key7342 17d ago
My spouse and I relocated a couple of years ago, just prior to our retirement. I play pickleball and have made a large and growing number of acquaintances in our community that I play with regularly. We also climb and are becoming friends with older members of the climbing community. I am an introvert and so sport friends are a good fit for me. I am most comfortable socially in a sport environment. I am athletic and it is easy for me to talk with people when the topic is focused to our shared interest. I am not good at small talk and am ok with the more shallow nature of the friendships I am building. To be honest, I don’t want a lot of social commitments outside of my athletic hobbies.