Are you a member of MeetUp.com groups. No it's not a hookup site. It got started after 9/11 by a few web NY programmers who saw the social isolation that the tragedy produced and wrote a social app. There are walking, hiking, cycling, boozing groups amongst many others.
It's big in OZ (Australia). Every capital city here has around 800 MeetUp groups.
When you move interstate and know no one MeetUp is a lifesaver.
I thought of starting my own MeetUp group (cost about $300/annum). It would be called "Toxic Spider Collectors", and dear US friends, I don't mean to put you off from touring OZ, the majority of tourists return in one piece, but we got plenty of toxic creatures, the bug and reptile kind.
Oops, got to go. There's a venomous Red Back spider crawling up my arm as I type. Luckily got a cotton bud and a jar handy.
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11 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Ausralia has lots of toxic creatures. At least you don't have a toxic president such as we.
Mooolah
Level 8
May 24, 2018
1
We just lie about the toxic creatures to make the country seem interesting for overseas adventurers. It's all a Tourism thingo.
And true we don't have a Donald. I'm still trying to understand your political system. How can one man have so much power.
The cost is $88 per six month subscription with quite impressive tools to manage & communicate to Members. I administrate one(Sociable Senior Singles) as president of a local social club that uses it as a recruiting tool.
AnneWimsey
Level 9
May 24, 2018
1
I have been a member of a few. I'm kind of sad because the organizer of one I'm a member of has stepped down, and no one seems to want to take his place, so it will fold in about a week. I would do it myself if I had the time.
Eazyduzzit
Level 7
May 24, 2018
1
I looked into it, but decided against it because it required a Facebook account, which I don't want.
Ellatynemouth
Level 8
May 24, 2018
0
Oh! Goodness..
The last time I used Meet Up it required a Facebook account. This changes everything. I will look into it again. Thank you.
It has Never required fb account!
It did when I last used it, years ago.
It has never needed a Facebook account. You will probably have to dig a little farther into the web page to find it. Lot's of web pages are doing that, and I hate it. Logging onto a page with a FB account might be "convenient", but some people have a very negative reaction to you being an Atheist.
I just returned from a meetup. A beach party, at happy hour time, though we brought our own beverages and snacks and sat within earshot of a favorite ukulele musician playing at a nearby resort lounge. Met a couple of nice new members tonight, enjoyed a breezy evening on the beach, and watched the colors change in the sky at sunset.
I've met most of my current island friends through meetup - and while some are agnostic - the focus is just socialization with the successful groups here. I tried to run my own agnostic meetup, but there was not enough interest to make it worth the monthly fee.
Julie808
Level 8
May 24, 2018
2
Julie, you had fun. You don't have to start your own,
There are fees only if a particular group wishes to chrhe one...most groups are free to join. If you wish to Organize a new group, there is an $88/6 months fee to Meetup, which is a real bargain, you can even send out emails simultaneously to all your members, or email each one, use of chats, etc etc etc included
Sounds like a good idea.
I'd love to see Oz, never would though, I'm far too afraid! ???️?
smoyle
Level 6
May 24, 2018
1
I'd more afraid of guns which are strictly controlled here.
My relatives in UK are rather like you S. They didn't want to visit because they were scared of the snakes and spiders. It took a long time to calm them down and get them to visit. Unfortunately, on the first day they were here a swimmer was taken by a great white shark on a Perth beach 
@Abbelyne Holy Moly! Is there nothing that won't try to kill you over there!
@smoyle It's not as bad as you imagine. I have red back spiders and dugite snakes living in my garden, but they don't actually attack you. In fact last spring when I was repairing my reticulation system, I grabbed what I thought was the polypipe and pulled it out of the ground, only to find that I was holding a rudely awakened, hibernating dugite. The big worry is that my cat can't resist chasing and pouncing on them. Last year she was bitten and it cost me $2,500 in anti-venom and veterinary care. But I dare say that if you visited Oz, you wouldn't be chasing and pouncing on venomous snakes.
@Abbelyne $2,500! Surely a new cat is cheaper! 
I have been a member of MeetUp.com since the early days, when it was completely automated. I think their original business model was to make money from restaurants, bars, etc.... as a method of bringing them more business. But, that didn't work. So, the groups then had to have an organizer. I was one for a couple of groups, but hardly anyone showed up. Some groups took off, and others faltered.
One that really took off for a while, what the Houston Atheists. A couple of years ago it was very active. But, today participation has dropped off dramatically. It's not dead yet, maybe it can rise again.
I attend MeetUp events a couple times a month. Fortunately, some groups do stay active.
novoxguy
Level 6
May 24, 2018
3
Keep trying and by the way I have no financial or promotional connection with their website.
I am a member of two Atheist Meetups in the metro Phoenix (Arizona) area and I run a Foreign / Independent Movie Meetup.
GeorgeRocheleau
Level 8
May 24, 2018
2
I am. But i have yet to actually meet up with any group I've joined
Holycowballs18
Level 4
May 24, 2018
3
Take a chance Holy.
That is on you! We cannot physically drag you somewhere, ya know? Do it!
@AnneWimsey and @jules4169
I have a lil baby now and currently no car...so i borrow a car for work and baby comes with me. Hard to get out let alone meet up with a group
Dear Holly,
Where I live there are MeetUp groups for single parents with kids. There's social interaction and sharing stories.
I know it can be super-tough and lonely for single parents with young kids but you got to get out there. If you are happy it will reflect in your child.
Good luck and take the plunge.
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