This post is especially timely for me. I have moved cross country multiple times in my life and am about to again. It always takes longer than I like to build new friendships. It takes a long time to build the right crowd, so loneliness is a persistent problem for at least the first year.
I have tried finding good roommates as a solution to the loneliness issue. Even when I find people I should like, that is not enough for any kind of friendship. The problem I run into, and the problem anyone else would need to solve with a service like this, is the problem of initial cliques. How do new people join the existing community? People act different around you when you are the new guy in the group and it takes time to build the shared experience to be accepted. New people are a disruption, and group roles become unclear.
The only way I have found to overcome the issue is by identifying a foundational shared professional or personal goal. It gives an excuse to be in the group. I think the sociologists mentioned have it backwards. Unplanned interactions don't create friends. Friends create unplanned interactions after they are comfortable with each other through connection on a deeper topic. The "unplanned interactions" model never gives an appropriate setting to confide in people. Unplanned interactions are usually trivial and rarely provide an appropriate path to share personally meaningful topics, which is a necessary factor for real friendships.
Therefore, I think any kind of service matching roommates needs to identify that foundational connection.
I must shift the times back thirty minutes, because I can't guarantee anyone will be there at 5 to choose a table and greet everyone.
If you get there at 5, please alert me through the contact email listed above so I know to look for you.
Meeting has been postponed. Plenty of interest, but the 13th was just too soon for people to commit.
Please keep in mind this location and time is subject to change based on feedback.
If anyone reading is interested, please RSVP to the email address tayfie@pm.me and answer the following questions:
1. If the current plans are not good for you, what date/time/location do you suggest?
2. What would be your purpose for attending an SSC meetup?
I will collect all responses into an email list for future updates. If at least five people agree to show up next Saturday, I will be in attendance to lead the meeting.
Don’t want to edit a historical post, but I’m commenting to say I am no longer running this group. Contact david9550@gmail.com or if interested.