I’m an introvert and don’t like groups, but I do have one really good friend and some other good friends and I try to say yes whenever invitations come around. My really good friend and I rarely go a week w/o going out for tea or coffee. We take vacations together, etc. Her kid is really good friends with my kids, too. Almost like close cousins. I am also involved in volunteering at the library. Otherwise I work from home and volunteering gives a little structure to my week. I really don’t like to join organized groups.
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Introvert here also, BUT while I don’t want my schedule full of people, nor do I want a large group, I’d would enjoy some intermittent small group activities! It’s stretching my comfort level a bit but I think it’s sort of more important as I get older to enjoy my time AND establish some people time too. I’m also still working outside the home and always have - so finding “group” time outside of work hours can also be a bit of a challenge.
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In no particular order some groups outside of my immediate family that are important to me include: my golfing buddies, people at the gym I go to, a bridge group, various friends including people I know from elementary school, HS, college, work, in town etc., extended family, people I volunteer with, and of course CC folks.
Tennis group- we’ve branched out to pickle ball and paddle/platform tennis. Very social- I’ve known many of these ladies for over 20 years.
Volunteer group- have worked alongside the same group for several years now and so look forward to seeing them each time. Started socializing a bit together.
Took golf lessons and mostly play with my H but have played with some neighborhood ladies a few times. Would like to do this more regularly.
Book clubs- these eventually have fallen apart. It’s ok, I still read a lot lol.
I hope these two clubs don’t conduct joint meetings. While fun may be a hazardous combo😀
Interestingly, I am an introvert and I love my groups, because they are all people I know really well. They keep me social, but comfortably so.
My groups are all from the church I have belonged to for almost 30 years (hence why I feel comfortable!):
Choir, Bell Choir, Women’s Circle (monthly study group), ping pong, and various committees that I have circled on and off throughout the years. I am also serving a 6-year term on the grant committee for our denomination’s regional entity.
I have been taking yoga at a local library for 6 years, but I don’t really socialize with anyone there so it’s an ongoing activity, but not a “group” I belong to. I have never been invited to join a book club, and not sure if I would like it or not so haven’t sought it out. Would LOVE to be part of a pickleball club, but don’t know anybody that is playing - but I have my eye out for this. As an introvert, I would probably need to be invited in rather than just show up! I would enjoy a hiking club as well.
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When our son was growing up, I was very involved with women’s ministry at our church. I have not found a church family near our current home, and I miss that.
Like @Sweetgum, I’m an introvert and don’t like groups. I’m happiest by myself. A couple of hours a week crocheting with like-minded friends satisfies my need for socialization. I think that’s why I’ve stayed with CC so long. I can wander unseen in and out of conversations of interest with no pressure to participate, an introvert’s dream.
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I am also an introvert. I was in a sorority in college, and I meet up with the women still in the area from time to time. Like many people who have been in my life over the years, though, I find that I have grown in a different direction than most of them. The last time we met, I found the whole vibe too pretentious; I need a break. I was in many groups through the years because of my kids, and although I enjoyed the people with whom I interacted, I didn’t keep in touch. Perhaps if I weren’t so introverted, I might have.
My long-term groups at this point are the church I have attended for more than 30 years and a group of friends that used to play in a euchre club. We no longer play on a regular basis, but we get together around Christmas annually, at the very least. I have been on CC for almost 20 years, I think, and I do consider it to be an important part of my life.
While I’m not much of a joiner, I wouldn’t mind getting involved in some community groups down the road. Right now, I am still transitioning from working to retirement … while it’s been more than three years, Covid, helping elderly parents who live far away, and helping with my 2 year old GD have honestly filled that time so well that I haven’t wanted to add anything to my life. When I do, I want to be sure that what I do brings me joy. In my younger years, I was a serial volunteer … I eventually burned out, and I am going to be careful not to take on responsibilities unless I really want them. I’m honestly at a point where I don’t want others dictating my schedule.
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Well…other than this group…
I volunteer at a charity thrift shop and have a great group of friends from there. During COVID, for example, we ate outdoors together once every two weeks…all bundled up. We have a lot of fun while we are volunteering and also on our various outings. We still go out to lunch at least once a month.
We have a great small neighborhood, and that’s fun too.
I’m also active in my retired teachers association on the state level, and have a group from there too,
And the retirees from my school….we have lunch monthly, and try to do an outing together about every two months.
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Introvert on board…my “groups” are all online and bring me immense joy - 2 separate watercolor art groups which I participate in fully.
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My main one is that I play in a band and write music.
My second one is that I road cycle, often with friends.
We have a few different friend groups that hang out often.
We attended church for decades but don’t any more. And I used to be in a cooking club that eventually fizzled out.
I’m actually an introvert and love reading online message boards/forums about a variety of (mostly inane) interests. It helps me fall asleep. This is like the only forum where I comment rather than just lurk.
We wanted to start volunteering by doing construction for our local affordable housing charity last year. But our bodies weren’t very cooperative in 2022. Maybe 2023 can be different.
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Habitat for Humanity RV Care-a-vanner builds- first one soon.
National Park association and volunteer ranger.
Lost my book club group of many years as they only did in person meetings during covid.
Neighborhood friends that we developed during covid -meeting out on each others decks.
Yes, all the groups actually started after we retired. Even with the kids gone, work was all encompassing.
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Church has always been a group I’ve enjoyed, back to my teens anyway. Obviously it’s been different churches since I’ve moved multiple times. No specific denomination. It’s the actual group that draws me in.
Right now at our newish church, we’ve just gotten involved with the Missions Committee and we plan to join the hiking group when we’re actually home on their hiking days.
Otherwise, our neighborhood has it’s own group we enjoy, often talking with each other on walks or sometimes getting together to play games.
And when I’m at school, the science and math teachers each have their own groups. I’m part of both. Eating together is common, as is keeping up with each other’s lives.
If I get involved in something else it will likely be volunteering for refugee resettlement or perhaps the local food bank. One thing holding me back from these is our travel. I’m not sure I’ll be dependable enough for them.
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I envy all of you , your groups! DH and I have not been very successful in fitting in places without our kids as the entrance point.
We do run a very large charity garden for our church, though, and that is fun and rewarding. But volunteering isn’t something most people under 40 seem to believe in any more, so our “group” is pretty small!
I sang in a gospel choir for about 15 yrs, but the schedule and conditions changed and so did my life so I gave that up.
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Both H & I are interested in helping with food insecurity, so I am guessing that will be something we get involved with soon. He really enjoyed working at a food bank on a somewhat regular basis through work, but the food bank is too far from our home. We will see what is nearby when the time comes. We also both really enjoyed accompanying our kids when they did Habitat for Humanity builds. I haven’t seen any builds advertised recently, but maybe there will be one this year - a nearby city has had a lot of them through the years.
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I totally get this @kelsmom. I did so much volunteering when my kids were growing up, especially during the 10 plus years when I was a SAHM. I may decide to eventually volunteer again, but at this point I’m not seeking that out.
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I think the younger people are volunteering, just in other ways. they are likely involved in volunteering at the schools, scouts, sport teams, etc. H and I did the church garden in NoVA before we moved and most of the volunteers were older, but we had more time in the day to be involved.
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If I waited to join a group it a volunteer effort with my H , I’d be waiting forever - he is very non committal with his time and our interests are largely not the same (it’s just the truth!)
I’m totally ok that group time or any volunteer efforts are “me” choices. He is the one who is “retired” though with a side hustle - I don’t know why he doesn’t buy into giving back or grouping together for an interest. 
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I have no issues with getting involved in things alone. But because my H is interested in volunteering, and we have some similar interests, I’ll happily get involved in things with him. He has taken on a couple volunteer roles at church since retiring, and he’s enjoying it. It will be he who waits for me!
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You’re not wrong!
I belong to a group called Chickfest. It’s just women meeting up to drink and gossip. I’m still a relative newcomer, but I really like the women.
I have two book clubs. Very different dynamic in both. I prefer the larger bookclub, simply because they are less serious about the book, haha. The smaller bookclub chooses better books though.
I’m going to get involved with a group of politically likeminded men and women. They were very energized by the midterms. I want to get to know some of them better.
I definitely feel I need to expand my circle of friends these days. Quite a few good friends have moved out of town, and with everyone becoming empty nesters, there’s a sense of disjointedness right now. I guess part of it is just this time of life—not retired, but “childless.”
Does hanging out with other couples count as a group activity? If so, that’s my favorite!
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