I’m 34 years old, single and got sober during lockdown after spending my 20’s being everyone’s party friend. Over the years I have become isolated and anti-social because I would avoid any social requests that involved nightlife.
I started going to the local park on my days off to walk because I enjoyed being around other people exercising and working on bettering themselves. Lately I have been wanting to start hiking for a bit more of a challenge and to push myself to the next level.
I have mentioned it in conversation with acquaintances and now I have plans set up to go hiking with 4 different people in the next couple of weeks!
– I really feel like hiking is the “let’s get a beer” for men in their 30’s who want to live a health conscious life.
– Everyone wants to be healthier and get in shape.
– it’s low investment so you can meet up with someone and be done in 1-2hrs.
– I used to get anxiety about hanging out with people and not “clicking”. With hiking it takes the pressure off because worst case scenario I can just let the other person talk and I listen if I feel we don’t vibe. It will still keep my mind busy as if I’m listening to a podcast.
– it’s usually done in the mornings when I’m still feeling fresh and my social battery is fully charged and not drained like after work (I work in the service industry).
– Being in nature and getting sun gives most people endorphins that will already make them feel good almost like how alcohol is a social lubricant.
– Its free!!!!
In the future I would like to check out some hiking groups on Meetup.com that are usually centered around a common interest but right now I’m already keeping busy enough with my current social plans. I have some niche interests myself and might even start a hiking group based around that in the future who knows!
12 comments
Good idea! Honestly I have no idea how older generations would just drink after work and on weekends… like they must have felt like absolute shit.
Sounds like hiking is a great way to connect with others who aren’t super into the nightlife! I dig it.
Congrats on your continued recovery. I find the consistency in showing up for hikes or endurance sports is really similar to showing up for my own sobriety. 86’ing drinks and subbing in connection with others is the way to a more fulfilling life, IME!
If you hate hiking or live in a place in which hiking options are limited, there are a variety of fun hobbies at a variety of price points and fitness levels that will introduce you to friends and get you feeling great.
* Rock Climbing
* Local Theater
* Improv Comedy
* Trash Cleanup
* Bowling Clubs
* Scuba Diving
* SCCA events
* Book Clubs
* Tabletop Gaming Stores
* Martial Arts
* Crossfit
As a person that hates hiking but also doesn’t want to drink all the time, I can personally recommend all of these.
but what if i wanna make party friends that drink?
Hiking and biking. Female here; my partner rediscovered his love for biking during covid. He used to go alone but has run into different men riding the trails and now, he has an entire group of guys (there are at least six of them) that he’s friends with. They met at different times, introduced them to each other. It’s been really good for him.
Volunteering is great to meet people too. For charities, or for events like music festivals etc. People who volunteer for organizing festivals etc often like to be active and meet new people.
Trail running is also great for meeting people. I have a huge network of people I know from racing and my run club.
Not free, but I took on boxing a little over a year ago. I’ve met some great people and got in shape. Something about beating the shit out of each other and shaking hands after builds camaraderie.
I developed an affinity for hiking during the pandemic, and it is indeed a great physical activity, along with being for me a great “mind cleanser”. If I’m ever feeling down, a long hike during a sunny day over the weekend usually does the trick.
That being said, as much as I’ve been reading how this is also a great social activity/might meet somebody — the two biggest types of people I found on the tracks are either couples or families, or they’re the crazy athletic types that blaze right past you.
So where exactly *are* those people? They’re in the same land of those Hot MILFs In My Area lol
Running clubs as well if you are into it.
Any activity where social contact is secondary to a shared interest is fertile ground for friendships.
Running groups are great because running run multiple times a week.
Not sure if you’re in or near a big city, but check out The Phoenix. It’s a social app for sober people. They do hikes, runs, walks, hogs, sand volleyball, game nights, rock climbing, yoga, CrossFit, pickle ball, and a bunch of other stuff.
I just go to the river and pick up trash. I do it for me because I like swimming there, but women come up to me and talk me up. I’m happily married, so it doesn’t help me, but it seems like a good way to meet people and you are beautifying spaces.