@vlrny@lonelinesscorps I talk to a couple of people online on a semi regular basis or maybe once a month or so I see a friend for coffee. Otherwise my connections come from people on the bus/at the shop. When I want to be among people but not have to interact, I go to the theatre or sit in town watching the world go by.
@vlrny@dartigen@lonelinesscorps I joined a Men’s Shed group 14 years ago, they meet two days per week and offer a diverse range of activities/ hobbies as well as being friends to retired and/or single men. Now I’m stuck in hospital with a knee infection, that contact is keeping me supplied with clean laundry and “toys” from home.
Would you, perchance, be able to explain what on earth pickle ball is? I hear lots of people talk about it, but have no idea what it actually is (and if it does indeed involve pickles).
@vlrny@lonelinesscorps It's the fastest growing sport in America! (or so I've heard).
It's kind of similar to tennis, but usually played with 4 people, 2 on each side. There's less running, and it's a bit more quick trigger type of play.
The nice thing is that there seem to be 'open' games everywhere, where you can just show up and join a game at certain times. In my small town there are usually 6-13 people there.
It does not involve actual pickles, but my paddle has a pickle on it 😛
having a regular date (for example every first wednesday of a month) with a small group of friends for a specific activity (taking a walk, cooking together, watching a movie or two episodes of a series, visiting an interesting place nearby, playing an online game..)
having group chats like in Signal, possibly multiple chats for the same small group of people: one for serious topics/discussions, one for pictures, thoughts, random stuff
@lonelinesscorps
Wingman hack for autistics:
hanging on to a more extroverted/sociable person I like, who knows & accepts me.
In school I had a best friend, now I have a partner who meets new people (through work, other friends or whatever magic NT people use for this) & is in regular contact with them. He tells them I'm autistic. I join them whenever I have the spoons (for games, movies, cooking) & after a while I sometimes meet one of them without my partner.
@lonelinesscorps
-- I especially like the part about being able to help others, even within your own limitations:
I lived in an assisted living facility which had all kinds of groups, activities (visiting the cinema, zoo, museum..) & an open café, because many of us struggled to socialize.
For a while I did very simple tasks there like delivering mail, answering the phone. It helped me to see that even at that point I could still help others, who were more impaired than me.
@lonelinesscorps My cognition is shot these days, so a lot of my online connecting takes more brain juice than I usually have. :(
I have pivoted from this to going for walks in a dog park. The dopamine hit of a dog running up to you with unbridled joy is excellent. And sometimes I get to have small chat (low cog demand) with the humans as well.
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