Note to self: find some groups to join. I feel like I don’t have the time for groups but reading this makes it seem like maybe it’s me 
I do occasionally volunteer when church or public library need help with some specific event but that’s not too often. I also don’t like meetings so I need a group that just does an activity.
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It can be tricky to figure out how to “fill your cup up”!!!
It sounds like you are still not comfortable inside activities due to Covid risk. Maybe put your mind to outdoor activities like helping at a community garden, attending an outdoor lawn concert (when weather in your area is good), checking with your park system for outdoor walks/hikes, etc.
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Forgot to add that we have a Blank Hospital Family of Friends on FB and we have reunions ever so often. Have one coming up on the 28th. Lots of fun.
I am wondering why you feel this way? This is the number one volunteer opp I would like to pursue.
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There are no community gardens near me. I did look at meet-up hiking groups once – I should take another look. There are many places to hike where I live.
Our MetroParks system has many, many one-time events outside at their parks. Nature walks, shorter/longer hikes - many one and done activities but also I think may people participating are “repeaters” so would be like a group! A city parks and rec department may have similar.
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Thanks! Do you actually go to different ones and camp? Is there any discount or perk?
I did a Master Gardener program about 10 years ago and loved it. The first part of the program was classroom and hands-on instruction. For the second part, participants had to complete volunteer hours working in gardens or related activities. I was a volunteer at the local Flower Show and answered questions about vegetable gardening. I also did public tours at a local botanic garden. Participating in the program was one of my best volunteer experiences.
I’m also on the board of a cancer support center that offers complimentary services for people who are going through cancer treatment, e.g., support groups, oncology massage, etc. I enjoy (from afar) dealing with some of the challenges that resulted from providing services during COVID. Plus, there’s always the issue of raising money (the program provides services to cancer patients free of charge).
One of the organization’s big fundraisers is a three-day walk, which is how I initially became involved. While training for the walk, I met two women (who trained with me). They are now my two best friends; it’s been 20 years since the first walk. We did 6 more walks together. The walk has changed in recent years and it’s a walk/ride that you do on your own and I still participate.
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Look for a Lifelong Learning Institute group near you if you are in a college town/city and if you want something varied and casual and no pressure, etc. I think many of them are Osher, grant based.
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I realized, with a bit of horror, that my most active “group” are the doctors, aides, therapists, even accountants that I talk to or see frequently as I manage my 92 year old mother’s life. I spent more time on this than anything else. Gotta change this and find some things that are far more enriching.
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fwiw, those of us of a certain age, or approaching, should definitely check out the local institution(s) of higher learning.
my family has convinced my husband to go back to college and get his degree - for free - because he’s turning 65 this year.
almost every college lets us olds audit classes. but very few allow actual degree-granting.
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I’ve been in choruses big and small for over 25 years. I just joined a smaller one closer to home. Quite a difference since the prior ones were focused on competition. But truly enjoy it. When I quit the larger chorus (drive got too much) my husband INSISTED I join SOMETHING! Just for me to satisfy my soul. He was right. If it wasn’t the local chorale I probably would have gravitated to community theater. But I feel rejuvenated weekly with every rehearsal.
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H and I did this pre covid for 3.5 years taking classes that we would have never taken before. Really unfortunately did not meet a group. I have a friend who does Osher at a local college in California and loves it. We don’t have it available near us.
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There’s also Road Scholar, now pretty far afield of the OT, but you can meet some great people on trips (I got mixed in with one of those groups on a photography workshop once).
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And while college courses are being suggested don’t forget Coursera! So many free courses that cater to whatever interest you have. I took a songwriting one a few years ago and it was really fun. I got to interact with people doing something that I’d never be able to do in my smaller community.
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Running group (actually, it’s a Tri group, but I only run). This was something I never imagined doing, as I was always one of those folks who said they would only run if something were chasing them.
I am in a FB group called, “Old Guitar Pickers.” After some initial hiccups (I posted on here seeking advice about some comments on my physical appearance/lack of smiling, etc.), this has turned into a surprisingly great find for me. It gives me a place outside of YouTube to post my guitar playing. It has broadened my musical knowledge as well and keeps me motivated to keep learning new material.
Not really a group, but we play trivia once a week at our local pub. There are MANY regular teams who are consistently there week-in/week-out so that also feels like a group to me.
I read a book about retirement - sadly, I can’t recall the title - that emphasized the importance of having some, “core pursuits,” in retirement and suggested that at least some of those be in group settings.
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glad to hear the guitar FB group turned out positively!
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Book group which is especially interesting because one of the members is a very erudite book store owner and several other members are Harvard profs from various fields.
No other real groups, but my real hobbies are the pro bono projects I participate in. I typically try to do one at a time. They use my particular skill set and try to help push things forward on very large problems (e.g., helped end a civil war, helped Congress work more effectively to pass bills (it led to the passage of a number of bills – on the basis of a formal evaluation, a big foundation chose to fund an expansion of it – but that was a few years ago and I’m not sure what the legacy of that project ), speeding the transition from fossil fuels, etc.). These usually have weekly meetings with folks pushing things forward and various trips/conferences as a result. So, work with a lot of people.
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