Moving to a new city can be difficult if you’re used to going out with your friends and having a big social life. Making friends in a new city has its challenges, but it doesn’t have to be hard.
Even neighborhoods aren’t the same as they were 50 years ago. Far too many people simply don’t know their neighbors. Meeting and knowing the people who live nearby can create a sense of belonging and shared identity in your local area.
Here are some easy tricks and tips to meet people both in your neighborhood and in the city after moving:
- Invite Neighbors to Housewarming Party
- Go to Community Based Events
- Join Meet-Up Groups
- Volunteer
- Pursue Your Interests in Your New Community
- Organize A Block Party
- Have A Garage Sale
- Be Outside
- Connect With Your Community Online
- Coordinate A Group
- Organize A Play Date
1. Invite Neighbors to Housewarming Party
Inviting your new neighbors to a housewarming party is the perfect way to break the ice. It also gives you a reason to reach out without feeling uncomfortable. The best thing to do is try and set a date for your party as soon as possible that way you don’t put it off.
Important things to consider when having a party is what you will be serving. Nowadays it is impossible to cater to everyone’s diets but you still can be mindful by providing options. If you would like to serve meat, having chicken is usually your safest option. It is also important to consider those who do not eat meat. Having a large pasta dish is a great idea that way there is a filling alternative to the meat dinner. Serving a large salad with dressings on the side is also a good choice for your party. I know it may seem silly to think about the details, but being as welcoming and accommodating to your new guests will set the tone for good neighborly relationships in the long run.
2. Go to Community Based Events
Community-based events are a great place to meet people around your area. If going to events is your thing, it might be a perfect place to be social. Every community will usually offer a wide variety of different types of events. Choose one that most interests you and you might be surprised at the number of like-minded people you will meet.
Usually, every city has an online calendar or website listing events in your area. You can also check out Eventbrite and search for events near you.
Common community events include:
- Concerts
- Block Parties
- Film Screenings
- Art Festivals
- Holiday Festivals
- Car Shows
- Cook-Offs
- Farmer’s Markets
- Sporting Events
3. Join Meet-Up Groups
If you are just moving to a new city ad on the hunt to be social, try using the app or website, Meetup. On Meetup, you can search from numerous amounts of community groups that are already created in your surrounding area.
If you are interested in hiking, bike riding, horseback riding, yoga, or pretty much anything you can think of, there is probably a MeetUp group for you. The app is very simple to use. All you have to do is type in your location and search for thigs you are interested in and you will be shown a plethora amount of groups in your area. Joining Meetup is probably the fastest way to meet people in your new area as the groups usually meet every week. The best part of it all is that most groups are completely free to join!
4. Volunteer
Do you have free time on your hands and want to make a difference in your new community? Then, volunteering might be a great place to meet like-minded individuals who care about similar passions as you do.
Volunteering can often get overlooked as something people only do when they are retired or are required to in school. However, volunteering can be done at any age and at any point in your life. It is also a great way to try out new things you might have never tried before. Volunteering allows you to try things you may have always wanted to but thought you didn’t have the opportunity. The first step is just searching for non-profits in your area online to seem interesting to you. Once you start getting involved in the group you like, it will become very easy to make new friends because you will be bonding over a shared interest.
5. Pursue Your Interests in Your New Community
When you move to a new place it might seem intimidating to get out there and do the things you have always loved to do since you are unfamiliar with the area. However, putting yourself out there and doing the things you are interested in is one of the best ways to meet new people that you will enjoy being around.
Finding friends in a new area might be hard if you are constantly on the hunt. When you just stop trying ad just do what you love to do, people who like the same will show up in your life. I know it seems simple but people often overlook where to find friends and even relationships. Most people who are very close friends or are in a relationship, share things and passions in common. The answer is in doing what makes you happy and the friends and relationships will come along the way.
6. Organize A Block Party
Summertime is the best time to have an annual block party and meet your neighbors. You can even pick a theme and post flyers along your neighborhood to get your community together.
Check with local authorities for permission to close off the street, making the celebration exclusive to folks in your community. You can have multiple barbecues going, kids bounce house, music, drinks, etc. You can also ask everyone to prepare a dish and/or bring a game or activity.
7. Have A Garage Sale
I know you may have just moved in but there may be a few items you wish you got rid of during the move. You can even invite other neighbors to participate in a community-wide garage sale.
Garage sales are a good way to get neighbors over to your home. Even if your “junk” isn’t all that precious to others, at least you have a way to start a conversation with the neighbors. After you sort through your belongings, make sure you stay organized and plan when having a garage sale. For more garage sale tips, check out: How to Organize a Community Garage Sale.
8. Be Outside
Meeting new people in your community can be as simple as taking a routine walking outside every morning before work. The easiest way to get to know your neighbors is to always be outside.
You can go on walks around the neighborhood and introduce yourself to people, tell them which house you live in, what you like about the neighborhood, or ask simple questions about the neighborhood or local restaurants. If you have kids pets, or neither, get up and go for a walk. It’s a much nicer feeling than scrolling through pointless posts on the internet.
9. Connect With Your Community Online
If the online world is for you and you enjoy meeting people online, then maybe a cyber social group is right for you.
There are plenty of location-based Facebook groups in every city. Next time you find yourself on Facebook, just make a simple search for groups in your area. You might be surprised by what you find and it might be easier for you to spark a conversation before meeting up in person.
10. Coordinate A Group
Can’t find any social groups on Facebook or MeetUp that are right for you? Create your own!
Creating a Facebook or MeetUp group is just as easy is joining. Whether it be a book club, running group, hiking group, etc., coordinating a group is a great way to get to know your neighbors. Come up with a descriptive title and explanation of what your group will be about and start sharing it. You can post flyers in the community or if your community has a community mailbox, post a flyer there. For more information on how to create a Meetup group check out: Starting a Meetup group.
11. Organize A Play Date
Do you have children or pets? A good way to get to know your neighbors is to organize some time for them to play together on the weekends.
If you notice a neighbor always walking their dog and you have a furry friend too, inviting them over for a play date or even meeting at a local dog park might be a good way to break-the-ice.
If you have young kids, meeting parents of your kid’s school friends is an easy way to get to know people in your new community. You can organize a play date or even enroll your kids in after-school classes that other kids are enjoying.
