Anybody got any ideas for free hobby oriented groups that I could join?

[coloradodem2005]

Last year, my life completely fell apart. I have gotten so discouraged that I haven't looked for work in a while and I need to do that again. But I really want to pick up the pieces of my life. Get into grad school and put myself out there so I can socialize with people more. I have joined some democratic groups and am meeting people that way and it is helping, but I have yet to fill the void. I need more. I just hope things will get better, and that they won't fall apart again. I digress but does anybody know what I could do?

[theoceansnerves]

1. see whats up at your local community college

you could take an arts course (ceramics, painting, etc.) or maybe learn a new language.

[Eureka]

2. Volunteer?

I'm not sure how fire brigades work in the US, but in Aus pretty much all non-metropolitan fire brigades are volunteer forces. (We even have to buy our own fire trucks!)

Anyway, it's a great way to meet all the people in the neighbourhood, including some that you might otherwise not meet/deal with, but it gives you a common thread with them so can lead to better understanding in the community.

Also, it gives you a way to meet people who might be able to help you out in future (and vice-versa), be it for work or for play.

Oh, and it gives me the feeling that I'm contributing something directly to my own community

[ant]

3. some websites

You could search around http://www.meetin.org/ for activities that interest you. If you're near Denver you might also find stuff to do at the community boards on http://denver.craigslist.org/. I've also heard people say they enjoy stitch'n'bitch groups (knitting) for meeting people and feeling productive.

Hope you feel better.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Stitch'n'bitch!

Hilarious! I've got to find one of those!

[ant]

5. they're all over the place

And if you can't find one, start one. I haven't knit in years, but I actually just bought the book and it has lots of cool patterns, so I'm hoping to start up again. (The book is also called stitch'n'bitch, by the woman who started a group in NYC, I think, and it has a section on how to get a group going in your area.)

Anyway, I also have a friend who's part of an all-women's ice climbing group: Chicks with Picks. Ice-climbing's a bit much for me, though.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Hobby oriented groups?

Well, what's your hobby? Or, if you don't have one, what appeals to you?

Do what you like. If you join a yodeling club and you don't like yodeling, you'll have to put up with people who yodel all the time. On the other hand, if you like to hike, join a hiking club and you'll meet other people who also like to hike.

[SnowGoose]

7. A couple of ideas

Your library probably has various reading clubs.

Local astronomy clubs are usually fun (I don't know what it is about nerdy people - they're (ok, WE're) pretty accepting.

Local Sierra Club. I did this when I was alone living far from my hometown. It's a good way to meet interesting decent people, and big fun if you're in to hiking/nature walks, and such.

One of the most rewarding things I did when I was alone and looking to integrate into a social structure was to volunteer for an AIDS support group. There's usually a fairly intensive training period for this kind of group, and it can be very useful, as there are often one-on-one and group learning exercises (relating to things like acceptance of others, active listening, death/dying issues, etc) that can shake loose some things in your brain that might have gotten cobwebby over the years.

Now dig it - I know this is going to sound totally self-serving, but if you're a straight guy (as I am) this is a great place to meet women. The group I trained with was almost all either gay guys (and by the way, gay Star Trek night is a real eye-opener) or really cool liberal women. Fundies, wing-nuts, and all-around conservative people just don't seem to join these groups (neither, to our discredit, do young straight guys join these groups in great numbers).

[roguevalley]

8. try scrapbooking, honey. it can be enlightening.