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Ask HN: New city, freelancer job, how do you make friends and fight loneliness?

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Re: Ask HN: New city, freelancer job, how do you make friends and fight loneliness?

#11

Post by thirdtruck »

yulaow wrote: post #6
thirdtruck wrote: post #2

There's a worthwhile chance that someone you already know back home has connections with others where you live now. That's how I made such a smooth social transition from one state to another twice in the space of a year: I asked everyone I knew for connections, and someone set me up with an existing gaming group even before I arrived. I had new friends within a week of moving. In the meantime: + Check out as many co…

It is ironic, I am in one of the biggest city of this country right now but on Meetup.com I can't find more than 4 - boring - events in the next 30 days Anyway I already planned to join an hackthlon this weekend even if I never tried one and fear to be the "noob of the group" but well, I hope we all started from that position somewhere I have for sure to improve my start-a-discussion-with-strangers skill.

And it _is_ a skill that you can improve with practice. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: New city, freelancer job, how do you make friends and fight loneliness?

#12

Post by atmosx »

yulaow wrote: post #5
atmosx wrote: post #4

I'd rather write a blog post and use it as reference. The topic is been discussed in very long detailed on HN, but I'm too lazy t find the link. The only advice I have is: Take haircuts and dancing lessons as often as you can.

Well this seems a very simply but effective suggestion I mean, I indeed considered to go to some dancing party (bonus I am still at an age in which I am young enough to be considered a college student) but I feel a bit awkward going there all alone, I would prefer to have with me at least one friend but I have to find one first elsewhere

Well, that's the thing with dancing classes: The members of the group ared forced to actively interact with each other. So even if you go alone, you'll need to interact with men and women in your group in one way or another. The haircut is both related to the aesthetics and non-stop-talking mentality most styling saloons have.

Re: Ask HN: New city, freelancer job, how do you make friends and fight loneliness?

#14

Post by lazyfunctor »

Try to find a co-working space in your area. If not maybe work from a cafe for some time during the day.

I was gonna suggest meetup.com but looks like you do not have interesting meetups in your area.

Maybe pickup some sport in your free time. Leisure, fitness and socializing all rolled into one.

Re: Ask HN: New city, freelancer job, how do you make friends and fight loneliness?

#16

Post by GFischer »

Others have suggested it, but:

- local groups for your preferred hobby (there are lots of tabletop gaming events, I met some cool people in Europe that way)

- taking classes is a way I've met lots of people. Even if it's short courses

- going to events

- sports and other hobbies - as some mentioned, biking, trekking, climbing, running. In southern Europe there has to be some kind of sports app.

Other family members use other kinds of social support:

- couchsurfing (there are local couchsurfing events almost everywhere)

- churches / NGOs / charities / volunteer work

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