@Betty1Boop
There are quite a lot on that site within range of me. The major problem with that, is I don't enjoy meeting people I don't know. I have major social anxiety issues, so much so that even when I'm meeting with friends that I know well I get anxious and a lot of the time pull out at the last minute to avoid it.[/QUOTE]

@rosska
Yes, I totally understand that. Over the years I have developed various tricks to deal with anxiety attacks due to social phobias. First, as a student I had to do a presentation for my master's project and I fully expected to have a panic attack in front of 80-120 medical faculty and students, which in my personal experience could result in fainting. I stepped up to the podium and announced that I was very likely to have a panic attack and that I might faint. I got a very warm response with some gentle chuckles from my audience and then I gave a great talk without either. Fast forward to MeetUp and the techniques I've used for that started with finding which activities were large enough to permit me to disappear in the crowd (like sitting in an audience) or involved quieter activities like meditation. I've also arrived late after introductions or feigned laryngitis and croaked a little while shaking my head apologetically. I've even contacted the organizer of a group and asked not to be put on the spot. (I believe many of the people who attend MeetUps share our issues.) Another thing I do is act--I rehearse interactions and act like I know what I'm doing. But I think the most important decision I made in my life was choosing between being afraid and doing nothing and being afraid and doing everything--I'm afraid either way, so I do everything--for better or worse.