By: John Thomas
As February comes to a close in the northern states, it is often accompanied by people looking to shed some cabin fever and reconnect with friends. Returning to outdoor activities – perhaps paddling a kayak or enjoying a patio dinner with some friends no longer seems like a distant dream. Much to the chagrin of skiers and skaters, we’ve had a mild winter and perhaps this year the cabin fever is not as extreme. Still, when a 50-degree day does sneak its way into February you suddenly see bikers and hikers filling the paths again and dogs happily granted a longer walk.
Perhaps you find yourself with more free time to fill than in prior years – the kids have moved out; you’ve retired or you find yourself newly on your own. Just as it can be difficult to transition back to stay-at-home movie nights and couch time when winter arrives, it may not be easy to find your way back out when it departs. Isolation due to the COVID pandemic may still be holding us back - when we decide something is dangerous, we can be doggedly resistant to changing that mindset. Possibly you’ve just gotten a little older and a little less energetic.
We’re human, and though we sometimes gravitate to the path of least resistance, it is in our power to change that path! The first step is to decide whether we want to be more social more active or more involved. Once you cross that first hurdle you can narrow your search to fit your desires. Plenty of groups exist both in person and online where you may find like-minded individuals. It’s easy to be shy about meeting new people, but if there’s a group dedicated to geocaching and that is what you’d like to be doing – it’s probably worth a try.
If you just want to get out but aren’t sure what to do, think about the things that brought you joy in the past. For me, a desire to spend more time hiking pathways as I did with my daughters years ago lead me to foothillstrailclub.org which has been great for meeting other hikers and introducing me to some area trails I now love. Numerous senior centers in our area offer a wide gamut of options – travel groups, sports both active and gentle, or perhaps a group of people who like the same card game.
If your interests are more niche and you’re having difficulty finding people who share your interests, you may need to do a little research. Numerous online resources are available such as Facebook groups, meetup.com, and others. Just keep in mind online safety guidelines – stick with mainstream sites, never send money or personal details, and bring a friend for in-person meetings in public places.
It is often said, "when one door closes, another one opens." For social connections, you may need to go rattle a few door handles and peek through a few doors to find the ones you want to walk through. Once you decide to get out though, you’re more likely to make those connections.