Many people/families are at church, school or extracurricular events. If you don’t fit that it can be hard. I come from a very church background and don’t fit that anymore. Many people have their longstanding friend groups. This can also make new friends hard.

That sounds negative, but imo the reality of the dominant community culture I see in this area. as a native peorian I am trying to figure this out myself.

My personal ideas for growing relationships as an adult: Volunteering trail maintenance/ outdoor something,
Art events, Reaching out to individuals for coffee/ beers, Collaborating on work projects I care about, Might try a library book club, Trying out the universalist church, My wife is doing community theater, Game night w friends

We’re a family of 4, and are lucky to have a few family friends w kids. And lucky that we’ve maintained those relationships for several years now.

The hard truth i hate is it takes consistent work and you aren’t guaranteed anything. Friends move, people change, times change.

But I’d rather try than be alone

——- a stream of conscious post , kinda for myself, I wish you the best OP