Growing up, I was very involved with church and youth group - until I went to college. I had so much fun and had so many friends I failed out after my first year.

I enlisted in the Army and had a ton of friends there. Then I was discharged. I got into drugs and had a lot of friends through that - friends you would not even talk to if you weren't in that horrible lifestyle.

I have lost contact with all my childhood friends and now have none.

I am a painter and recently got on instagram to show my art. Someone with an art studio that does therapy art sessions had contacted me awhile ago to meet up. I am meeting with them next week. Hopefully I can network and meet some other artists. I was in a gallery show recently and a lot of the artists seemed like they knew each other. I am hoping getting into more shows will get me more exposure and maybe meet a couple people.

My wife and I just started going to a universalist church. The people seemed to be really inclusive after the service and tried to take us back to the coffee meet up. We are still apprehensive about getting involved - we are just dipping our toes in the water.

The problem is my wife is looking for a new job and we are most likely moving to another city, so all of this seems a bit like a waste of time, but those are the places I have made/attempted to make friends. I don't know if that helps.

I will say one thing though - in college, professors are paid to pay attention to you and classmates are all in the same vicinity and situation, after college everyone goes their own way. It can seem very alienating, so I feel your struggle. Hopefully some of the ideas above will help you. Or maybe some of my insight. Don't know.