Excluding bars and the like, where do you go to meet people, and how would one find these places.
I'm asking because that seems to be the only thing around here. That can't be all there is, but I can't seem to find anything else.
Well, I met my wife at a gas station. Well, what I mean was 20+ years ago I met this really hot girl at a gas station. Decided to flirt with her a bit. Got her number, etc... This October will be our 21st anniversary.
As far as meeting other people, that can be difficult. Where to hang out with work-mates outside of work other than a sports bar or someplace? It can be tricky.
When my daughter was younger she was a dancer, and several of us dance dads would go throw a football around the parking lot while the kids were in class. Teh dance moms were all clucking around like hens and we'd be out talking about sports, cars, whatever. Or we'd hijack our kids gameboys and play super Mario cart (that built-in wifi thing is coooool).
The college here has "star parties" monthly, another method of meeting people with similar interests.
No lie though, meeting people can be pretty tough. Most of the time it can take quite a bit of effort. But then it can be forced on you. For example; In 1998 I was part of the air-det aboard the USS New Jersey, and we were enjoying a port visit in Singapore, the 'Cruiser was on that days duty section. After I'd done some maintenance on our bird, I heard a voice behind me asking if I had some time to answer some questions. I turned around and there were about 20 people there as part of a tour group. I spent 45 minutes or so fielding questions about the ship, our RPV, the USA, the NAVY, what shipboard life is like (etc, etc). Nothing like finding out that you are an de facto US ambassador at the last minute. But it was fun, if not a bit nerve wracking at first.
Fraternal organizations are an avenue also. Elks, Masons, Oddfellows, et al. I'm secretary of a Masonic Lodge myself and will have been a member for 25 years pretty soon, there is always something going on that I can get to if I wanted.
And if there were any truth to the rumors about the Masons/Illuminati crap I wouldn't be needing to work now, would I?
Team sports too. Softball, bowling, mmm darts maybe, but then your probably be in a bar. Pool (billiards, not swimming).
Ahhh, possibilities.