Join a club or group (like a book club).

“When I showed up at the first meeting, I didn’t know what to expect. But the members were warm and welcoming, and the group altogether had a good vibe. They were funny, open, and I felt accepted immediately. So I bought the book, I read the chapters for the week, and I returned the following Monday. Amazingly, the next meeting was just as good. Our conversations ranged from serious to can’t-even-breathe-funny, with the occasional (okay, frequent) tangent thrown in. Very quickly, I realized that these meetings are now the highlight of my week. For an hour a week, I can stop feeling like a lost freshman and just feel like someone who likes to read, joke, and snack on cheesy bread.”

“I joined a mystery book club at my local library. That was the first time I've had what I considered a 'typical book club' experience. There were four other women, a facilitator from the library who just guided the conversation... everyone read the book. That was all we talked about. It was a very specific gathering. Everyone also decided together the next book to read. It was wonderful! I was also the youngest person present by at least 30 years. :)”