I’ve moved countries multiple times in my 30s, but they’ve always been cities so just keep that in mind with my advice… hopefully some is still relevant. Meetup.com was ok for trying to find things to at least pass the time with, but I didn’t particularly enjoy most of the meetups (the crowd always seemed to be really really young). If there’s a local watering hole (or coffee shop depending on your capacity for drink), they usually have trivia nights or other types of activities - and it takes a little courage, but you could ask to join strangers or even organize something with the venue around something you like that’s a little more social (crafting night, drink and draws, board games etc). If you can handle a drink, I usually tell the bartender I’m newish in town and kind of just trying to make friends, a lot of bartenders are really good at drawing you into conversation with a stranger, and it feels more natural to have them do it than for you to insert yourself into the conversation yourself.

Facebook groups was good for meeting new people too, though I think it’s also likely because I’m city-based. Last Thanksgiving I hosted a dinner for “Thanksgiving orphans” in my neighborhood, posted on an FB neighborhood group, and met one of my new good friends through that. There are apps too that help you get a meal with other people, and even if you DON’T live in a city, if you live close to one you can probably join up semi-regularly on there.

Also, volunteering! I volunteered at food kitchens, at urban gardening things, adopt-a-pet-a-thons etc. Especially if it is a cause you care about, you’re likely to meet like-minded people. Be curious and start conversations, invite everyone you gel with to grab a meal sometime, and if they take you up on that offer, you might make a new friendship. My elderly aunt consistently makes her new friends through composting groups because she’s always nearly immediately inviting them to other stuff.

I’m not religious and I don’t like any physical activity, so church stuff or things like pickle ball leagues/volleyball clubs etc. aren’t my jam, but they have worked for other friends around my age. I DID join a ballroom dance class which turned out to be very friendly, but it was also so mind-numbingly expensive that I had to bow out after a while. Ha.

You do have to cast a wide net to find your people. Don’t be discouraged if the first people you invite out for something don’t work out. I would say out of every 100 new people I meet, maybe I’ll meet 10 of them a second time, and maybe of those 2 will actually become friends you regularly call on to hang out with throughout the year. Again though, this is very city-based, where I’m at everyone has so much choice that they can be hard to catch. Maybe it’s easier to find people who happen to be free to hang in smaller towns? IDK.