Restaurant? Library? Other? (Bonus points if its toxic people resistant)
Board game stores - go and enjoy some games with strangers.
Or Board game clubs/associations. About 30-50 people who all enjoy competitive or cooperative board and card games. See many of the same people each visit.
You could a niche interest that you can lean into and find established spaces that cater to said community. Like gardening? Attend workshops and presentations by your local native plant society. Know how to knit, or want to learn? Weekly Stitch & Bitch events are everywhere. Interested in history and know a bit of mechanics? Volunteer at a historic railroad nonprofit.
Hear me out, I go to a Unitarian Universalist church for the music and sense of community. There is no shared theology among UUs, only a set of shared values. UU services vary a lot by the specific congregation. Ours has had services on celebrating gender identities, promoting social justice, mourning global conflicts, and fighting climate change. Sometimes relevant theology from a variety of world religions is incorporated into services, but there is no expectation to be a believer and there are many atheist members in my church. The rest of the time we have potlucks, play board games, do community service projects, etc.
I go to a similar church and I’ve honestly made such close friends there, we just call ourselves spiritual mutts and have a wide spectrum of beliefs. We are VERY loudly welcoming to LGBT folks, and even have one trans lady in our congregation. A local church of a similar demographic recently announced they were not LGBT affirming, and two thirds of the congregation up and left and came to us, absolutely shocked that this has happened, because they are not people who would tolerate that and has no idea the leaders occupied that position (the pastor of that church also resigned because of this stance). Honestly it’s one of the best things in my life, we do lots for the community and a ton of creative projects as well, including having summer artists in residence. It really can be so different from the shitty churches.
School. For me, community college.
Time to go back to school.
Immediately made me hear this song: https://youtu.be/hyMOZamxU0s
I’ve had this same question a hundred times. Seems like a lot of people find a sense of community in church, but I’m non-religious and I haven’t found a replacement.
You could check out a Unitarian Church. They don’t have any specific creed or beliefs and welcome everyone, including humanists, atheists, etc.
That’s not a bad idea. There’s actually a Unitarian church about two miles from my house. Last time I drove by there was a MAGA across the street shouting into a bullhorn, so that should at least make it interesting.
It’s worth a shot. If nothing else, I’d imagine you’ll meet some interesting people.
sport
Bonus points if its toxic people resistant
Sadsacks don’t do sport; you tend to meet more high-energy, confident people.
Do you know what Toxic means
poisonous
