How to Make Friends in a New City

Moving to and making a new home in any new city is an exciting time. You have boxes to pack, plans to make, a new job to learn, a new home to find, and new places to explore. With all the anticipation of the move, you may not have given much thought to making friends in your new city.

The usual suspects

Of course, you’ll have co-workers to befriend, but that could be a small pool from which to choose. And, if you're bringing your family with you, they'll want to make new friends too. While school-aged children will find friends in their classrooms and activities, preschoolers and stay-at-home spouses don’t always have built-in relationships. Here are some places where you might discover new friends.

Gyms

Whether you’re an avid Cross-Fitter or casual Zumba class attendee, you’ll find like-minded members at local gyms. Signing up for a class before or after work puts you in the same location as others with similar schedules. Daytime classes more likely have other parents with small children with which to bond.

Houses of worship

Local churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and meeting houses may offer groups, classes, and organizations for you no matter where your interests lie or what schedule you have. Often, daytime gatherings offer childcare or meetings of like-minded folk focusing on a common cause or charity.

Clubs and groups

If you belong to a club in your current home city, check to see if there are branches or chapters in your new city. Ask your leadership for a letter of introduction to smooth the way into your new home’s group.Members of fraternities or sororities should check out chapters in their new city too. 

Hobbies and interests

If you have a hobby or a developing interest in learning about one, craft and hobby stores typically offer classes and workshops where you can meet people with comparable interests.

And if you’re shy?

Making new friends isn’t necessarily easy if you’re naturally introverted or shy. A couple of helpful hints:

• Be a listener. You don't have to impress everyone you meet with your conversational skills. Just pay close attention to what they want to talk about and ask a few leading questions: "How long have you know about …?" or "Where did you first become interested in …?"
• Smile. A ready smile attracts people to you and makes you appear friendly (which, when you’re trying to make friends, is a good thing to be).

Make friends of friends’ friends

Remember, while you may not “gel” with everyone you meet, this person might have a friend that is your new-best-friend in waiting.