Anonymous wrote:OP —
I would second the suggestion to consider joining a church. I did it a few years ago. I grew up going to church, then went through a long period where I simply didn’t care about religion. As I got into my 40s, faced some challenges, problems in my marriage, watched some friends die … I started to think big picture again. I randomly went to a non-denominational church one Sunday morning three years ago and I haven’t missed a Sunday since. I have found an incredible community there — not at all geared towards women alone. I belong to a weekly church group that is a cross section of people — some married, some not, some older, some younger, evenly split between men and women, and a wide range of ethnicities and races too. We are a really close knit group — we celebrate successes, bear our burdens, etc. It’s been a fantastic and complete unexpected change in my life.
Also — my wife is not a believer at all and doesn’t come to this with me. And that’s just fine. It is kind of “my activity” and while I would love for her to join me, it’s also given me a certain independence that was probably lacking before. I don’t “need” her for this part of my life and that’s a good thing.
One final thought — if you do become serious about religion, it can take you on an incredible intellectual journey too. I get more and more into it, I read books about it, I study the Bible in a serious way. I’ve learned a bit of Greek and Hebrew. It’s been a great intellectual enrichment in my life — way more than any hobby has provided.
Anonymous wrote:This area is really awful to meet new people. It's a rat race to nowhere. Get out while you're young. Move out west. Arizona, Colorado, Montana and even New Mexico. You will meet chill people with better life balance.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:volunteer in school and join the PTA.
When we moved here, I was wfh, and so the only people I met were through my kids' school.
- a man at the PTA meeting?! That will go over well.![]()
OP here. Would it be odd? I feel as if other moms might think I have nefarious reasons for joining. I can't imagine a lot of other moms would like a 20-30 year old male joining the PTA....