Sober and socializing
 

What did you/do you do to get out and meet new people, make new friends that was not in the drinking or bar scene? I know there are a lot of things to do that don't require alcohol but I am curious what you all went out and did when you first quit drinking to have some fun and meet new people.

It is important to make changes and get out there and do things and have fun. I was lucky to find an amazing volunteer opportunity in my first days of recovery. I couldn't work at the time because we had just moved to a place where English was not the first language, so volunteering truly saved me. I met many amazing women and had so much fun and love given to me that it truly helped me to start loving myself.

When I first got sober I was active in my church, tho I rarely go anymore. I agree that volunteering in your community is a good way to develop other interests and meet new people. :)

A soup kitchen or homeless shelter or animal shelter would love to have your help. :)

Volunteering is great. I got active in meditation and tai chi communities. I joined meetup.com. pick some things that you are passionate about or interested in and see if there are local ways to get involved

Meetup.com. In my area, there's actually a meetup group called "Syracuse Area Non-Drinking Society." Meetups are great because they're just a bunch of people who don't otherwise know each other getting together to enjoy common interests. There are political meetups, dog meetups, art meetups, dance meetups, lots and lots of drinking meetups, a few nondrinking meetups, foreign language meetups, dance meetups...

Having fun and meeting people wasn't my goal when I first quit drinking. Sobriety was. Once I was sober, everything else fell into place. And things I worried about, like not having a life without alcohol, proved to not be the case. There is life after drinking.

My life is full. Fuller than it's ever been. But it didn't happen in two days or even two months. But it happened. Be patient, stay sober, and attain the coping skills to live and love an alcohol-free life.

It was suggested to me by a counselor I try Meetup.com, I joined a local hiking group that seems to have something on the go almost every day of the week and we have a blast as they are dog friendly, I do not go to church however where I live the churches, fire station and community centers have these pot luck dinners often, met a few people at these.

That is about all the time I have had in the past but Meet Up here has so many groups, just pick one that looks like it might interest you.

Good luck
Andrew

Running groups
My local coffee shop
Creative workshops and events not centered on drinking
The gym
Volunteering / service work

I always did my socialising in bars, but I discovered the magic of coffee shops, they too also have regulars!!

It's all about figuring out what you're interested in, hobbies, interests, new projects, rekindle old hobbies, and through activities will come people!! :)