A new thing I hadn’t thought of…

[dichroic]

I just realized, I need some advice.

We’ve just moved from the Netherlands to a Portland, OR, suburb. I don’t have a job. So far, we’re leaning toward staying there a few years. I don’t plan to get a job right away; the idea is to spend a few months working on some writing projects (nonfiction) before I even start looking.

You’d think I’d be a pro at moving by now, and I kind of am, but this is a new situation for me. How do I meet local people, if I’m not working with them? Three paths are obvious: we haven’t yet been able to contact the closest rowing clib (I emailed but got no answer); I will search for local knitting groups; I do have a couple of online acquaintances plus one old friend of my husband’s, but no one I’m close to and they all have day jobs.

Are there writing groups for nonfiction writers? Should I go boulder at a local climbing gym and hope someone needs a belayer? Any other suggestions? I know a few people on my friendslists have been through very similar situations.

Mirrored from Dichroic Reflections.

Comments

[antisoppist]

I think it's hard and that you're right about the obvious methods being through hobbies but it's rare for those friendships to turn into friendships outside that specific context. Though I have mainly been doing that in Finland and the UK and I get the impression that the US is perhaps friendlier than either of those. I've joined choirs but in 20 years I've only made one choir friend who became an invite-to-your-house friend. Here my friends were made through playgroups because moving into a village with a two year-old was an instant introduction but that's not much use to you and even when I had a two year-old I didn't want to talk about potty training all the time. My non child-related socialising has been through the book group and organising International Women's Day. Are there any causes or interests you could volunteer for?

[bronze_ribbons]

Perhaps there are some possibilities at http://www.meetup.com/cities/us/or/portland/ ?