Shy in a Small Town

[maineguy78]

I was voted the shyest in my graduating high school class, which makes it really strange that I am now a teacher, which means that I am speaking in front of people for a living!

I don't think I'm nearly as shy as I was when I was younger, but I still have a hard time meeting new people. I live in a very small town, which is over 2 hours away from even an average-sized city. I had a decent circle of friends when I was younger, but they've all moved away or gotten married and had kids. When I'm not working, I end up spending most of my time alone, just reading or watching movies.

I'd like to meet new people in my area, but I don't feel comfortable at bars: I don't drink, I don't have anyone to go there with, and I don't like the type of music they tend to play (country or 80s "hair bands"). There aren't any real stores or activities going on in the area. The only other place where people meet around here is at church functions, but I'm an atheist and would prefer nonreligious friends.

Does anyone else live in a small, isolated town? If so, how do you meet new people?

[strawberrysweetie]

Jan 26, 2012 21:32:00 GMT -5 maineguy78 said:

Does anyone else live in a small, isolated town? If so, how do you meet new people?

Yeah, I'd say I qualify.

Well....I thought college was my out. So, after high school, I moved to a bigger city and went to university there. Basically, I had more opportunities, but didn't take them. Made a few friends the first year, which was great...and I'm still (sort of, though very rarely) in contact with a couple of them. After that first year, though, I just...ended up retreating back into myself. It's all too easy for me to do that. Especially undergoing the drama that 'friends' can sometimes overwhelm you with.

And then I eventually wound up back in this shitty little town that I had moved away from.

It sucks, period. Though I realize some people like the small town life...

Honestly, I think your best bet would be to move to a larger area. Otherwise, I don't know.

I've recently gotten accepted into a program, where I will be leaving soon and will be surrounded by people near my age.

If I were to stick around here, well....it's a small town. Everyone knows everyone. Most people my age are usually...married and/or have kids...or just have problems. Drugs or hardly any motivation or whatever.

And if you're in a bigger area, there's a better chance of finding a group online. Personally, I'm envious of those in the super huge cities that can take advantage of sites like meetup.

erm...I'm not being very helpful, am I? If you're mostly happy with your location, I just don't know. I'm not so sure what to do about living in a small town, which is part of the reason why I personally am so desperate to leave my own!!!

[1229]

I was voted the shyest in my graduating high school class

So was I! I thought my schools were the only wacky ones with a "Shyest" category. If were getting technical, I actually won it back to back... junior high and high school. An extra picture in the yearbook, which my friends all agreed was quite hilarious. My best friend even went around buying up the extra copies one of the yearbooks didn't use. ;D

I don't think I'm nearly as shy as I was when I was younger, but I still have a hard time meeting new people.

So true for me as well. It does get harder as you get older and have less "common" meeting areas like school.

Does anyone else live in a small, isolated town? If so, how do you meet new people?

I'm not sure as I live in a large populated area. Though, in all honesty it's really not that much easier in a large city.

[maineguy78]

If I were to stick around here, well....it's a small town. Everyone knows everyone. Most people my age are usually...married and/or have kids...or just have problems. Drugs or hardly any motivation or whatever.

It's exactly the same way here. I was seriously considering moving at one point, but I ended up getting a full-time teaching position.

It does get harder as you get older and have less "common" meeting areas like school.

I agree. I miss the days of being a student...meeting people and starting up conversations didn't seem forced or unnatural. Now the only place where I am around a lot of people is the grocery store, and I would feel very awkward starting to chat with people shopping.

One of the negative aspects of my current job is that I'm the youngest of my coworkers, so I don't hang out with any of them outside of work.