Making Adult Friends in a New Place

Being alone in a new city can be daunting. Perhaps a new job or just a fresh start was in order, and you moved somewhere where you don't really know any other adults. Regardless of whether you're a loner or an extrovert, you'll need a support system at some point, so here are a few ways to make friends. The most obvious way would be if you work in an office setting – you're bound to find common interests with a few coworkers. But you don't want your work-life balance to be offset by seeing the same people day in and day out, including nights and weekends. In this world of social media, we're more connected than ever, so when you move to another place, you're likely to have a friend of a friend living nearby. Why not ask your buddies to set up coffee dates with people in your new vicinity? It's less random than approaching a stranger, and you're likely to find some common ground with a shared friend. Use that social media connection to keep your relationship going – friend the person on Facebook, and let him or her know how much fun you had, how nice it was to meet him or her, etc.
In other words, follow up. When you make a connection with someone and exchange contact information, use it. Moving to a new place brings new experiences, and immersing yourself in something you've never done before – think that photography or knitting class you always wanted to take – can help you meet people with similar interests. The same goes for volunteering – find something you're passionate about and meet people who share that passion. Finally, if you're introverted, it can be uncomfortable reaching out to strangers, but you just have to do it sometimes. Say "yes" – whether it's to the girl at the gym who mentions wanting to try Crossfit or the guy at work who invites you to his friend's band's concert. You don't have to go it alone in your new place, so get out there and buddy up.