Non church/school/sports ways to make friends in rural areas?

In our area, we have chicken BBQs open to the public, tractor pulls. Or go to the nearest little town's website (or chamber of commerce website for your area) and see what local events are coming up. Then go and mingle!

Watch the papers for auctions in the area. Another great way to meet people.

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Lisa
www.jandlentertainment.us

Our American Legion does Bingo once a week. Our Veteran's have a bar/restaurant and have Taco Tuesdays. Our little newpaper lists weekly events for clubs. Library has a lot of events as well, all for free.

I can't tell from your post whether you have kids or not. Makes a difference in what to recommend.

I also wondered if this was for kids or you. here...if it says 'palooza'..that's where big people go. I don't always get it..lol..but it does draw a good crowd. kids here, I'd have no clue. we don't really get in to socializing, but if I wanted good company I think I'd drive to town and hang out at the library. ya..kind of dull...but it's a cool place. I just usually don't feel like making the long drive.

We've got a small farmers market in town on Tuesday mornings. Seems like a lot of folks mill around there a lot. Probably a good place to meet some locals.

The local restaurant or truck stop , where the coffee hounds congregate, there is usually a round table(or long one) for people to suck coffee and B.S...

I visit the local lodges [though I did not join any of them, if I do they would want me to hold office].

I did join the American Legion and the VFW. Both a large social networks.

The Grange is good too.

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http://www.mofga.org/

http://www.mofga.org/Programs/FarmAp...2/Default.aspx

Yes I do have kids (thought the homeschooling and public school part gave that away ) but others might not, so the widest range of replies will help the most people lurking here.


I am going to start a seperate thread on the Grange.

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

Food, beer and music works for me. If you are new in the neighborhood, hosting a bbq should do the trick. print up some invitations and drop them in the mailboxes of folks who live nearby.

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

Yeah, it is a gathering spot alright-around here it would a great place to meet all of the local alcoholics and people who enjoy drinking away their unemployment checks.....

http://www.meetup.com/

I found my freethinkers group and have made a lot of friends that way (my version of church). There are also mothers groups, gardeners groups, hashing groups, political groups... search your area and see if there's something up your alley. If not start a meet up group if you can afford the fee and see who wants to join you.

Also how about the local Master Gardeners or other gardening group/ site?

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US Army veteran, military retiree spouse, and military; civilian; British NHS; and VA doctor.

In our little town, the best place to get the latest town news and meet others is the "town hall + garbage dump". Since the majority of people bring their garbage to the dump once a week, its a great place to meet your neighbors, find out the latest news, etc.

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Nerds on a nano-farm - since 2005

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

You're obviously not in a small enough town. lol

And unemployment checks?? I think I've known exactly three people in the last 20 years who were unemployed for more than a couple of weeks...

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

When we joined our local 4-H club it turned out we were the only non-homeschoolers in the club. Since then we've met 4-Hers from all over the county, especially since we began going to the County Council meetings.

There are also the Girl and Boy Scouts plus other local volunteer organizations.

Shop around. As with any volunteer organizations their value to you depends heavily on the local folks who are spending their time and efforts to make the local groups work. Girl Scouts did not work out for us so after several years we looked in on 4-H. For other folks it might work the other way around.

Well, Pig roasts are always a hit. But it helps to already know people for that.

There is always the local coffee shop/restruant where the locals "meet" in the mornings to chit-chat. Start (or join) a sewing, scrapbooking, gardening group. even a garage sale will lure locals and you can meet them and chit-chat. Selling eggs can gain popularity (it sure does here anyway).

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Wow. Some people visit without drinking, and some people have money to go have a few. A bit judgemental, are we?

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My husband and I are new to our small town, and we went to the neighborhood's National Night Out potluck a couple weeks ago, we met a bunch of our neighbors. I got invited to 'Ladies Night Out' at the local golf club for the following week, and met some people there. It was very low key, basically just a bunch of ladies got together and talked for a couple hours over a glasses of wine. No one got drunk or anything, just sat and talked and had a light supper, too. Was less than 10 dollars for a night out, which was good as we are on a budget. Got invited to go to the next garden club meeting and book club meeting while at ladies night. My husband got invited to join the Lion's Club, and he's a member of the Legion. We went to the music in the park that our town had last week, and got to chatting with our neighbors and a coworker of my husband's, and local buisness owners.

Socializing and meeting new people does not come easy to me, but I kinda forced myself to go out and do it anyway. I figure it'll get easier with practice, and it's not like I'm going out and doing stuff every day, or even every week. I like my alone time, and I still have plenty of it.

I live in a dry county!

Excellent suggestion!!

-And don't forget that pretty much all of the volunteer fire depts have fundraiser meals or auctions. At least the ones around here do. Go to one and get some good food. Be it bbq chicken or a pancake breakfast. You might strike up some conversation with a new found friend while enjoying what you both like. Food!!

L8R,
Matt