I’m 65, in the UK and I try to look after myself reasonably well – keep moving, eat sensibly – but I’ve noticed it’s much easier to stay motivated when there are other people involved.
For those of you around my age, are there any local groups, clubs or meet-ups you go to and actually enjoy? Things like gentle exercise classes, walking groups, church or community coffee mornings, over-60s clubs, that sort of thing.
I’m interested in places where older folk can chat, laugh a bit and do something enjoyable without feeling rushed or out of place. If you’ve found any friendly, low-key groups that have helped you stay active and less isolated, I’d really appreciate hearing about them – and how you first found out they existed.
Hi Lindacare
For us we have a social group within our residential area. Many of us are retired and we keep tabs on each other. We help each other with practical things and enjoy things like home made cakes and things.
The social prescriber attached to our doctor’s practice has been and still is a wealth of information and good advice. Also Age UK in my area are very good with advice and contacts.
I belong to a seniors/pensioner club which I enjoy but my friends and acquaintances have diminished dramatically over recent years. I attend too many funerals for my liking.
In my state, there are so many options!
I personally am in several local organizations…
Local Seniors Center (just attended the Chistmas luncheon today)
Town Historical Assn.
Democratic Committee in our County
Shade Tree Commission in our Village
On Board of Trustees for our Library
Attend monthly Town Board Meetings
There are many other groups but these are my choices right now. It does keep my busy enough, and connects me to new folks!
Good ! One of the things I enjoy is travel. That was world travel but now, because I’m ancient, we usually limit it to local stuff like The Roman Road. This was our grandson with my dog:
Since moving here to Lowestoft I’ve become involved in several coffee groups, as in we meet up several days a week. Monday at church community cafe (4-6 of us). Tuesday at a cafe closer to home, with maybe 8 people (1 from the Monday meet). I might join the Thursday group in town, unless I’m busy and unable to go. And then there is the church hall monthly quiz on a Friday morning. Same set of people that go Thursday/or Monday.
I answered adverts back in Covid time or year later, and it all went from there. Most of the ladies have become great friends, either with me, or amongst themselves. We all get on extremely well.
We have just had our first festive lunch/afternoon tea at the Tuesday cafe. Next week we are off to a carvery. And on Monday four of us will join the community cafe Christmas dinner.
What I did at the beginning was go out of my comfort zone in joining those meets. One was in a private garden. There may have been about 20 of us. Then the lady who started a local group (but she has now moved away), got some of us to meet at her camper van in a local park, providing teas and coffees, we fell out, and I split away to start the Tuesday meet. We made up, but she moved away for health and family reasons, coming here occasionally to see people she is still friends with. Some ladies joined her group but they struggled with venues, and numbers whittled down. They now go to the community centre in town and as stated, I sometimes join them for a quick hello and cuppa.
