I'm going to add another vote for volunteering. A lot of people only think of food kitchens and political campaigns when it comes to volunteering, but as a cyclist I've made a lot (if not a majority) of my friends while volunteering at events like trail building days, or by helping to set up or tear down for races or other cycling events.
Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
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Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#921 - I host a game night once a week. We play Magic the Gathering. Though the group is quite small now (4-6 people) it was quite large pre-pandemic (~20 people). I just asked around at work and the neighborhood if anyone was interested and just sent out a text every week to those who said they were interested.
2 - Monthly board game night. Very similar to #1, but I mention it because it's much less formal. There's a small group of neighbors in my little neighborhood. Once a month or so one of us will text the group and say "Who's up to board games? I can do Wed or Thurs". Usually have 3-5 people actually show up so far. But it's been fun.
3 - "Knit Night". My wife recently joined a group of people who like to do more ... traditional style crafting. Mostly crocheting and knitting. Though there's a little bit of quilting. And sometimes people show up and draw. One time one person did a stained glass kit. But they just get together every other week, take turns hosting.
4 - Band. My wife joined a local for-adults band. A former band-instructor from a local highschool formed it. They do performances in the community 4 or 5 times a year. Apparently these kinds of bands are pretty common. Probably could ask a local conductor at a highschool, middle school, or community college if they know of one locally.
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#93Meditation. I got into it by accident when I taught English overseas. Some of the best friends I've had came from it, especially on retreats.
Also if you make the community, you grow a community more. This happened when I became a teacher. I don't do it as much nowadays, though. You could equally have a solid community by organizing events, creating groups or some type of thing online like-minded people can find you by as a beacon of sorts.
So, if possible, finding groups that align with deeply held values you have is a good sign or activities you deeply enjoy. It's probably good if it's something outside of tech unless that's something you mainly 100% care about.
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#94Local coffee places and bars; like minded people rock up all the time. Met lovely people just today; gonna meet them in an a few weeks for a hike. Never worked for me for focused envs, for instance the gym: too much whining about sports/health and not stuff I actually like.
Embarrassing / dumb q, but how do you actually get to talking with them in a meaningful way? I can imagine with repeats, it's easier to build up rapport, but I don't think I've ever hit it off so strongly with someone at a coffee shop that we exchange info after one interaction (mine here aren't super social fwiw)
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#95Eaaasy: - Meetup.com - If you don't find a community for something you want to do, then start one! - Local sports clubs - Volunteering - Start going to EDM parties - pretty soon you'll see the same people. Say, "hi". - Facebook groups for pretty much everything. - Do what kids in the 80's did, and many still do: go to the local playground, and ask if you could also play with them. You're not too old, you're not too "…
When my mom moved to a new city I recommended she look for a hiking Meetup as a way to make some friends, and she ended up meeting her future husband there!
Isn’t this the plot to Back to the Future?
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#96Warhammer 40k.
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#97I participate in a weekly simracing tournament with several others. We’re all adults with responsibilities so we’re generally not all there every week, but we have a few leagues that we run in different games. I am not particularly close to those guys but it’s a good place for my social needs to be met without having to always dedicate time that I might not have. We also have few requirements, just don’t be a jerk, so even people using a controller or people who can’t drive often attend. One guy is really slow and gets lapped quite often, but I’ve never heard any suggesting he’s not welcome.
A real world meetup would be harder for me with a job and a kid with some special needs, so a virtual thing is great for me.
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#98I live in a very transient city with very little tech industry, which also happens to be a city where half the population leaves every April/May through October/November. Community has been hard, especially meeting new folks. There have been a few community tech events that have come and gone, and I've been lucky enough to meet a few friends through that. I joined a gym 4 years ago, and a lot of my friends now I've m…
I can't imagine anything worse than going to the gym. What do you do there? Walk on a treadmill like a mouse in a laboratory? Also, you come back starving because you've burned calories, probably eating way more than you should due to being famished. And it's also extremely boring. I've tried it once or twice, but I just can't handle it. Genuinely interested in how some people manage to consistently keep going to the…
Many people go to the gym as a means of achieving their goals.
If you have health goals in mind, there are a lot of things at the gym that support them.
For example, one friend was overweight and it was recommended that in addition to cardio, he have strength training. He goes a couple nights a week and goes through the strength training stations. He's lost 7 inches on his waist in the last few months.
Another friend goes for the exercise classes
I did the gym years ago, but nowadays I bought a used stairmaster for cheap and set it up in my house. I read for pleasure and do it while on the stairmaster. I also hike with others frequently, but days I can't this works for me.
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#99I joined the Freemasons. It's been awesome, I've met a great group of guys and we talk smack and eat soup. Good stuff.
I've been curious about the Freemasons. What type of people do you tend to meet through it?
Re: Ask HN: Where have you found community outside of work?
#100I love focusmate.com
Less for the “i can’t focus without some external accountability”-pitch it seems to market itself as and more for the serendipitous network of people doing interesting things