Moving - how to meet new people?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-11-2008
Moving - how to meet new people?
8
Fri, 01-11-2008 - 10:27pm

Right now I'm single, 23 and graduating in May to start my first real full-time job as a pharmacist! I'll be moving across the country though away from my family and friends who are scattered all over the place. I'll have a couple of friends where I'm moving but both are living with their boyfriends and probably won't have much time to hang out with me.

I was just wondering if anyone has any advice on how I would potentially get into the dating scene and also make new friends in a place that I am unfamiliar with...

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2005
Sat, 01-12-2008 - 10:04am

Congrats on your May graduation! I know it will be exciting for you!

You say you have friends who have boyfriends, right? You could always ask them if they could set you up w/one of their friends and see how that works. And who knows, you may meet some nice & interesting ppl where you will be working when you graduate :-)

5yrssm 
Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 01-12-2008 - 10:21am

I've moved to new places where I knew no one three times.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Sun, 01-13-2008 - 11:31pm

Congrats on the excellent career choice and for having a position lined up.


As far as meeting people, if we were experts on dating we wouldn't be posting on this board! LOL


Find something you enjoy doing that isn't solitary - or involve a bunch a women - if you want to meet men - and no the gym isn't a good place.


Join a professional association for your field. If you have a political party you are affliated with

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-11-2008
Sun, 01-13-2008 - 11:38pm

Loved your comment about the gym haha! I do plan on joining a pharmacy association and attending conferences but I never thought of that as a way to meet new friends. Good idea! I'm not sure about political party affliations because I never really follow politics!

What do you guys think about the bar scene? I mean nice, non-sketchy bars not the ones that university students go to to pick up people. I have mixed feelings about it because I've met a few guys while I was out which turned out to be sleazebags but a lot of my friends have met their significant others at a bar. Let me know what you guys think!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Mon, 01-14-2008 - 11:37am

I'm glad you liked the gym comment. LOL I am an avid gym rat, and I get annoyed if men talk to me and from what I understand they feel the same way. So from all the years I have been going I've not met men that way. I know guys from my gym, but have never dated any. Don't think I want to. LOL


As far as the bars. That's a loaded question. My cousin who doesn't even drink met her H in a bar and they have now been married for 16-17 years, but I think those are the exceptions not the rule. It never hurts to go to a classier bar. I've certainly met and dated guys I met in better bars, and not all have been sleazebags. Some have been great on paper, and then turned out to be total whack jobs! Dating works on the law of averages. The more situations you are exposing yourself to the chances of you meeting someone are increased. One of my friends met her H in a supermarket! It does happen.


I met some great friends in my professional associations. I made a great friend with a girl who was in one with me and we are still friends to this day. Knowing her meant I met a whole different group of people. The funny thing was we were the only 2 young women in the whole room and navigated towards one another. So even the most dire looking group can bring friends your way. Now I am friends with a lot of the older men too, and hey don't forget they often have sons!


Beach

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2007
Thu, 01-17-2008 - 4:03pm

 Z

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-11-2008
Thu, 01-17-2008 - 4:34pm
I don't know...I think the meeting people through friends thing is a good idea but I'm not really out-going enough to approach strangers ie in gas stations.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2007
Fri, 01-18-2008 - 9:34am

You should take a look at this website--meetup.com--and see what kind of social/networking groups are in your new city. I found it when I first moved to my city (where I didn't know anyone either) and joined a group that was called "New In Town" and was basically just an organized monthly happy hour for people who are new to the area. That was three years ago and I'm still friends with one of the other girls I met.

I also tried a bowling group and a book club through this site. Those weren't quite as successful, but they were fun to try. There are a ton of different groups in my city, so hopefully there will be one you're interested in trying in your city too.

Good luck!