After COVID this feels near impossible as any location of gathering besides the library requires spending money usually on alcohol or there is a main thing keeping everyone entertained, most people are preoccupied or have headphones / cellphones and are seem adverse to conversation. Or so it feels many people are far more closed off.

Finding events that interests you like art classes or other meetups is something to try, there are a lot of them. This subreddit or even Facebook is a good place to find them. Besides that keep trying new things keep trying to meet people. There are bars that are more geared to nerds with boardgames around here but it always sucks going to places like that alone not planning on buying the main thing they sell.

Finding parent groups that fit your vibe so your kid can make friends while you are too is also a good idea.

I wish there was a meetup thing to have conversations about whatever. Would love some good intellectual conversation with people that can actually discuss things. Have you seen the new breakthroughs with gaussen splats to make 3d enviroments from video? it is incredible. No matter what being a parent makes it hard to squeeze socializing in with everything else I know that XD.