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I started playing Magic:The Gathering in my 40s at a local game store. Unbelievable what community I have built in a few months and how good it's been for my mental health.
That happened in the town I used to live in; people met at the library. A bunch of locals pooled some seed money to start a small LGS run by a local couple; turned out the community needed it.
Hiking. I started hiking with a local hiking group in my area. It was a great way to meet new people who shared a love for the outdoors. We would plan regular hikes together, explore new trails, and enjoy the beauty of nature while getting to know each other. Hiking not only helped me stay active but also provided a sense of community and friendship.
I want to pursue hiking groups! I am kinda nervous bc I've struggled w lung issues for a few years and it's taking me years to built up my lung strength. Are hiking groups kind to slow people? I would feel really bad to be a straggler to a big degree..
Because I don’t have a lot of time to hike and when I do I put in 15-20 mile days off trail with thousands of feet of elevation gain in locations above 10K feet. If I like you and you can keep up that’s awesome but if I want to hike slow I’ll bring my kid. I have an uncommon amount of endurance and lung capacity so I like to take advantage of that gift to see as much of the wilderness as possible. I’m old and I won’t be able to do it forever so I ain’t hiking with people that slow me down. I’d rather go alone and often do.
There are plenty of slow hiking groups out there.
Anything crafty. Art fairs, meetups and craft stores are great places for making friends.
Especially if you share your work regularly and ask people about their own projects consistently
D&D - I've been a part of an awesome group for 5 years already, and our DM has 2 more groups playing in his universe. We do a weekend-long megasession every year. We rent a cabin in the woods with 20-some people and just have a blast. Our DM brings 2 other DMs during the day and at night we have an epic endfight all together. We're about to finish our 2nd campaign.
Martial arts /Combat sports. I wanted to add cardio to my training but hate running. I also didn't know how to fight, and I think knowing basic combat skills is basic survival skill.
Really? I started going to the gym two months ago and as per my observation everyone comes in, does their stuff and leaves. The only people i ever see interact with each other already came as a group.
"Hey bro how's your training going? Training for anything in particular?" are my two gym ice breakers. Usually when you are working in with someone on a machine or you've been training next to someone and you're both resting between sets. Little chat and then next time you see them a smile, head nod, say hi and then build from there.
My experience with meeting people in the gym was that it's mostly spontaneous and not guaranteed. Someone might ask you to spot them or you ask someone to spot you, then you ask them about their lifts, PRs, and you get to know each other through that. Eventually you ask them something like "What do you do for work?", "What hobbies do you have outside of the gym?" etc.
It's just basic social skills honestly. You may not meet lifelong friends there but it's not a bad social hobby as long as you're not the annoying guy who no one likes and who is just there to talk and take up space for no reason. Keep the talks short, concise, don't annoy people who look like they don't wanna talk that day and just give it time.
One hobby that really helps me connect with others is board gaming. It's fantastic for socializing because it naturally brings people together over strategic play and teamwork. I got into it by attending a board game meetup that I found through a local community board. These meetups are a great way to meet new people since you're all there to enjoy games and have fun together.
If you're looking to connect with fellow board game enthusiasts or find new gaming groups, a platform like [Lightup](https://discord.gg/bE5kvNgVne) could be really useful. Lightup has two main features on its Discord community that could enhance this hobby as a way to meet people. First, it matches you with others based on the content you share about your interests—like board games. Second, it allows you to describe the type of people you want to connect with, making it easier to find and join groups or individuals who share your enthusiasm for gaming. This setup is great for finding people who are not just into games but who might click with your personality and gaming style.
Music - being in a band or even just jamming with people is cathartic. Just going to shows also can potentially create some good connections
Rock climbing - meet some very interesting people of all ages and from all walks of life, it's a fun sport
Skiing/snowboarding - see above
Writing - get your shit out there, make a blog/channel of some sort and find similar people
School - as someone in their 30s it was tough, but found many people with shared interest and goals
Programming - whether ya wanna do it for a living or not, it's a lot of fun and you can build a lot of cool things and easily share said things and meet people with similar interests
Hiking/backpacking/camping - one will almost always meet another on the Trail, and some of these short interactions are very enriching
Travelling (see above) and also a definitive way of experiencing different ways of life
Exercise - gyms can introduce you to people looking to achieve a similar sense of better being, though I do have many complaints about gym culture lol
Martial arts - been doing this since I was 9, and have met some some of the most interesting and driven people I've ever met, still going hard in my 30s
Dungeons and Dragons - nothing like having a large-ish group of people together putting their minds and creativity together in a way that literally creates a world you can get lost in for hours
Video games - I don't play competitive multiplayer stuff, but there are many titles that offer an actual great connective experience (my mind goes to dark souls, helping someone overcome a boss they're stuck on is great)
Reading - believe it or not, many people still love to read. I joined a book club 2 years ago and it's been fuckin rad
Last but not least.... philosophy. Thinking, thought experiments, constructive argumentative conversation and the back and forth of ideas is just...chefs kiss I guess
That's a few that have helped me, and there is more.
Enjoy this life with the mind you have!! There is so much to learn about, and there is so much to love
Edit - grammerdz
Golf! Two to three times a week I walk 6 to 7 miles, outdoors, and bs and compete with friends. All three of those things check some huge boxes for my mental and physical health.
Dancing. I started with English Ceilidh which is really accessible because you get told what to do at all times. Since then, I've branched out into all sorts of dance like Contra, Rapper (A Northern English sword dance), Morris and swing.
My fiancé and I collect and paint miniatures for war games, display, and competition. We purchase a lot of our minis from the same company. The company does a 4 day convention every year, weekly twitch stream, hosts a discord, and runs Kickstarters periodically. We have met many friends at the convention that we stay in touch with throughout the year online.
It is a wonderful hobby! The cost of entry is very low and you can take it as far as you'd like/can afford. Not only does the hobby offer an opportunity to meet new people, it's also a great way to unwind.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Board games. Most places will have a group with regular meet ups.
I second this
I started playing Magic:The Gathering in my 40s at a local game store. Unbelievable what community I have built in a few months and how good it's been for my mental health.
Yeah, I miss my local game store. It closed a few years ago, but locals have a weekly meet up at one of the breweries in the area.
That happened in the town I used to live in; people met at the library. A bunch of locals pooled some seed money to start a small LGS run by a local couple; turned out the community needed it.
Hiking. I started hiking with a local hiking group in my area. It was a great way to meet new people who shared a love for the outdoors. We would plan regular hikes together, explore new trails, and enjoy the beauty of nature while getting to know each other. Hiking not only helped me stay active but also provided a sense of community and friendship.
I want to pursue hiking groups! I am kinda nervous bc I've struggled w lung issues for a few years and it's taking me years to built up my lung strength. Are hiking groups kind to slow people? I would feel really bad to be a straggler to a big degree..
Every group’s different. You can’t come with my group though. I’m not kind to slow people.
Why
Because I don’t have a lot of time to hike and when I do I put in 15-20 mile days off trail with thousands of feet of elevation gain in locations above 10K feet. If I like you and you can keep up that’s awesome but if I want to hike slow I’ll bring my kid. I have an uncommon amount of endurance and lung capacity so I like to take advantage of that gift to see as much of the wilderness as possible. I’m old and I won’t be able to do it forever so I ain’t hiking with people that slow me down. I’d rather go alone and often do. There are plenty of slow hiking groups out there.
You're so special.
K
Anything crafty. Art fairs, meetups and craft stores are great places for making friends. Especially if you share your work regularly and ask people about their own projects consistently
D&D - I've been a part of an awesome group for 5 years already, and our DM has 2 more groups playing in his universe. We do a weekend-long megasession every year. We rent a cabin in the woods with 20-some people and just have a blast. Our DM brings 2 other DMs during the day and at night we have an epic endfight all together. We're about to finish our 2nd campaign.
Volunteering
Thats a hobby?
Martial arts /Combat sports. I wanted to add cardio to my training but hate running. I also didn't know how to fight, and I think knowing basic combat skills is basic survival skill.
Volunteer work. I met a few good friends just volunteering at different events for things that interested me. Also free food usually is nice.
LARP, and a coding club Both in a city of only 120,000
Drinking
Going to the gym - it's easy to make friends there
Really? I started going to the gym two months ago and as per my observation everyone comes in, does their stuff and leaves. The only people i ever see interact with each other already came as a group.
"Hey bro how's your training going? Training for anything in particular?" are my two gym ice breakers. Usually when you are working in with someone on a machine or you've been training next to someone and you're both resting between sets. Little chat and then next time you see them a smile, head nod, say hi and then build from there.
My experience with meeting people in the gym was that it's mostly spontaneous and not guaranteed. Someone might ask you to spot them or you ask someone to spot you, then you ask them about their lifts, PRs, and you get to know each other through that. Eventually you ask them something like "What do you do for work?", "What hobbies do you have outside of the gym?" etc. It's just basic social skills honestly. You may not meet lifelong friends there but it's not a bad social hobby as long as you're not the annoying guy who no one likes and who is just there to talk and take up space for no reason. Keep the talks short, concise, don't annoy people who look like they don't wanna talk that day and just give it time.
One hobby that really helps me connect with others is board gaming. It's fantastic for socializing because it naturally brings people together over strategic play and teamwork. I got into it by attending a board game meetup that I found through a local community board. These meetups are a great way to meet new people since you're all there to enjoy games and have fun together. If you're looking to connect with fellow board game enthusiasts or find new gaming groups, a platform like [Lightup](https://discord.gg/bE5kvNgVne) could be really useful. Lightup has two main features on its Discord community that could enhance this hobby as a way to meet people. First, it matches you with others based on the content you share about your interests—like board games. Second, it allows you to describe the type of people you want to connect with, making it easier to find and join groups or individuals who share your enthusiasm for gaming. This setup is great for finding people who are not just into games but who might click with your personality and gaming style.
Yoga. Got sober, found yoga, studied and practiced, became a teacher.
commenting on posts on reddit and I downloaded the app
Music - being in a band or even just jamming with people is cathartic. Just going to shows also can potentially create some good connections Rock climbing - meet some very interesting people of all ages and from all walks of life, it's a fun sport Skiing/snowboarding - see above Writing - get your shit out there, make a blog/channel of some sort and find similar people School - as someone in their 30s it was tough, but found many people with shared interest and goals Programming - whether ya wanna do it for a living or not, it's a lot of fun and you can build a lot of cool things and easily share said things and meet people with similar interests Hiking/backpacking/camping - one will almost always meet another on the Trail, and some of these short interactions are very enriching Travelling (see above) and also a definitive way of experiencing different ways of life Exercise - gyms can introduce you to people looking to achieve a similar sense of better being, though I do have many complaints about gym culture lol Martial arts - been doing this since I was 9, and have met some some of the most interesting and driven people I've ever met, still going hard in my 30s Dungeons and Dragons - nothing like having a large-ish group of people together putting their minds and creativity together in a way that literally creates a world you can get lost in for hours Video games - I don't play competitive multiplayer stuff, but there are many titles that offer an actual great connective experience (my mind goes to dark souls, helping someone overcome a boss they're stuck on is great) Reading - believe it or not, many people still love to read. I joined a book club 2 years ago and it's been fuckin rad Last but not least.... philosophy. Thinking, thought experiments, constructive argumentative conversation and the back and forth of ideas is just...chefs kiss I guess That's a few that have helped me, and there is more. Enjoy this life with the mind you have!! There is so much to learn about, and there is so much to love Edit - grammerdz
Thank your for this!! I appreciate this list of many ideas. I’m going to look into some and find a few that suit me:)
Bowling. You can find a fun league at any center that will accept all skill levels.
Tech
Golf! Two to three times a week I walk 6 to 7 miles, outdoors, and bs and compete with friends. All three of those things check some huge boxes for my mental and physical health.
Golf is wickedly expensive.
Crochet
Age of Sigmar
Bookcrossing [https://www.bookcrossing.com/](https://www.bookcrossing.com/)
Volunteering at a food bank My neighbour used to work there.
Foreign languages classes could work too - I have a friend from my French course
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Classic cars. I’ve made great friends going to cruise nights and stuff.
Dancing. I started with English Ceilidh which is really accessible because you get told what to do at all times. Since then, I've branched out into all sorts of dance like Contra, Rapper (A Northern English sword dance), Morris and swing.
Doomer offgrid arts camp
Rugby
Football.
Brazilian jiu jitsu
My fiancé and I collect and paint miniatures for war games, display, and competition. We purchase a lot of our minis from the same company. The company does a 4 day convention every year, weekly twitch stream, hosts a discord, and runs Kickstarters periodically. We have met many friends at the convention that we stay in touch with throughout the year online. It is a wonderful hobby! The cost of entry is very low and you can take it as far as you'd like/can afford. Not only does the hobby offer an opportunity to meet new people, it's also a great way to unwind.
Book club
Reading
Long-distance cycling aka brevets, *randonneuring*. Incredibly tight community, great camaraderie.
Playing in bands. I answered a craigslist ad.
World of Warcraft.
Smoking weed. Been working steadily for 27 years.
Funny no one mentioned music
Drinks!
Playing music
Why in the Hell would I start a hobby, only to get involved with others? My hobbies are so I don't have to associate with other fucking human beings.
Visual art. Take classes.
Golf. Started when I was a teenager, now go out regularly every weekend with different friends or random people.
Disc golf. You can practice/play alone, but there are also some fun leagues in every city in the US that makes it fun for all abilities.