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Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

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Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#21

Post by chrisseaton »

telesilla wrote: post #20
chrisseaton wrote: post #4

> In the past, offices were a great way to meet new people. I would suggest that your work office is not a great way to depend on meeting new people. Aim to meet new people at social settings, not business settings. Join clubs and go to social activities to meet new people. Sports, culture, arts, etc. Spaces that have zero to do with your work or profession are key. I'm in the Army Reserve to meet people outside work…

Depends on the office. Some are vibrant and full of interesting people!

If you read my comment you’ll see I didn’t say they aren’t.

The issue is that you’re creating a single point of failure, as OP was asking. If the office shuts or people leave or you need to leave or there’s some issue at work, you can have lose both your social group and your work in one go.

Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#22

Post by telesilla »

chrisseaton wrote: post #21
telesilla wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on the office. Some are vibrant and full of interesting people!

If you read my comment you’ll see I didn’t say they aren’t. The issue is that you’re creating a single point of failure, as OP was asking. If the office shuts or people leave or you need to leave or there’s some issue at work, you can have lose both your social group and your work in one go.

I disagree because I'm firm friends with many ex-co-workers. I don't see it matters where you meet people you like.

Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#23

Post by [deleted] »

telesilla wrote: post #22
chrisseaton wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you read my comment you’ll see I didn’t say they aren’t. The issue is that you’re creating a single point of failure, as OP was asking. If the office shuts or people leave or you need to leave or there’s some issue at work, you can have lose both your social group and your work in one go.

I disagree because I'm firm friends with many ex-co-workers. I don't see it matters where you meet people you like.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#24

Post by CogitoCogito »

Sports clubs (not necessarily serious ones) are great if you're into that. Just make sure to actively try to build friendships outside the sports as well. I.e. ask if they want to get beers, hang out, etc. Treat it almost like dating.

Also I'd recommend shopping around when looking at sports clubs. When I first got to Stockholm, I ran regularly with 4 different clubs. After about 4 months, I was mainly hanging out with one of the clubs that was the most social. It felt like I had a full social life there within a couple weeks of moving there.

Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#25

Post by MandieD »

The very old school way: church/religious group. Doesn’t have to be fundamentalist/conservative - if you’re in a US metro area, I guarantee you have the more open-minded variants of all the major religions rather close to you. They’re often a good way to get plugged into long-term volunteer work, even if you aren’t particularly interested in attending worship services.

(Personal taste: Episcopal Church, after growing up Southern Baptist. Childhood friend who got a harsher dose of Southern Baptist now enjoys occasionally doing stuff with her local Unitarian-Universalist congregation, and appreciates their youth programs for her girls. Your mileage will vary.)

Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#27

Post by learningmore »

I had to “restart” my social circle similar to @jameshush when I moved states, and again when I moved to Cupertino. In addition to the suggestions mentioned: -Hiking / Tennis / Racquetball partners. People are frequently looking for these partners, and sports offer an easy way to get to know someone in person, then ask if they want to hang out. -Volunteering- I found most of my recent friends while volunteering at religious events.

Re: Ask HN: Remote workers, how are you meeting new people / making new friends?

#28

Post by mostertoaster »

I go to a non huge church so it is pretty easy for me. Though generally, I think this is true for things beside church, I don’t really become friends with people until i eat and drink with them. This was fairly easy when I wasn’t remote because I had so many opportunities to get food at lunch or get a drink after work.

Generally now it is asking folks I meet at church if they want to come over for lunch with family, or come have drinks some evening with a bunch of the guys, and so on.

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