View comments by: Most Recent - first / last | Most Popular - first / last | Replies - hide / show

Making new friends

Hello, I am new to this forum/chat room and would like to submit something that I find very difficult at this stage of my life. I am 74 years old. However, I am a young 74. In season, I play golf (Which is my passion) twice a week. I am very fit, trim, and healthy. I do not take nor did I ever take any medication. I do wear hearing aids because I was wounded in Viet Nam and I slowly developed a hearing impairment. I am 5'7" 152 pounds. Very athletic, excellent dancer, love to read foreign intrigue novels, enjoy cooking, walking, and intelligent conversation. I am on the conservative side, a college graduate, served in the US Army Special Forces, educated 3 Sons at very fine American Universities, and have traveled all around the world as my father was in international business and we had homes in Switzerland, Manila, and Long Island,NY. I was divorced 23 years ago and had a 20 year wonderful relationship up until 3 years ago. Aside from my golf buddies, with whom I do not socialize with off the golf course, I am alone. My 3 sons live in different states with their families, and I visit often and play golf with them and spend time with my grand-children. We are all very close! The rest of the time, I am alone. I have absolutely no idea as to how to meet women or men for that matter for socializing. I used to be very extroverted, and I am /considered to be well dressed, well groomed, and nice looking. While I am financially secure, I get totally turned off when I read profiles on dating sites where women say they are looking for a partner to travel abroad, go to Broadway shows, go out for Fine Dining, etc. I am looking for friends to socialize with. I am NOT interested in becoming a "Check Writer" for a woman. Should something develop, fine! However they should NOT put that into a profile. That will make any man head the other way!! So, how do I meet people? I know it becomes very difficult as you get older because you become rather set in your ways and do not suffer fools. But, I am a fun person once I meet the right person or persons! Any suggestions? Thanks. Rony


Created By on 22/11/2015

Not a member?

You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!

syldee555
7th Jun 2016 22:20:43
0
Thanks for voting!
rony .just be yourself and you will find the right people to spend time with . my best wishes and look forward with interest to see how things work out x good luck syldee
CaroleAH
24th Jan 2017 14:55:04
0
Thanks for voting!
Hi everyone. I have been very interested reading the comments made in response to Rony's post about making new friends. I agree about the people on dating websites who want a 'meal/holiday' ticket - it must be off-putting to anyone who feels that they are only a means to an end, whether it be providing nice meals in posh restaurants, lovely holidays or even somewhere decent to live and much as I hate to admit it, it is probably the female sex who expect this. However, what about all the men in their 60s, 70s and 80s who, judging by their photos are not exactly as fit and trim as Rony, but who want to meet a female at least 20 years their junior, who is slim and not a grey hair in sight! I have come to the conclusion that the only way to meet people is to go out and join clubs or groups of people who have similar interests. In the UK we have the U3A so I have joined a Book Group, Gardening Group, Holiday Group and a Singing for Fun group. I have to admit that men are few and far between (and those who do attend the meetings usually come with their wives) - is this because men don't join things and prefer to go to the pub instead? Most of the time I am fine and happy with my own company but just occasionally it would be nice to have someone to do nothing with - I have plenty of friends to do something with - but there are times when it would be lovely to listen to some music or watch a play on TV and then say "well, that was a load of rubbish - what do you think?" Dating websites might be okay for some but having seen an ex-partner's profile on-line (we had been together for 10 years so I knew him very well) who said that he enjoyed cooking {does a ham sandwich counts as cooking??? 🙂 }, gardening, rock-climbing and canoeing, I can only assume that he had spotted some unsuspecting female on the website who had listed those hobbies and he thought he would be in with a chance. Far better to meet people as friends then if "the spark" is there, things can progress.
maureenmargret
19th Aug 2016 08:12:01
0
Thanks for voting!
Hi Ronnie I find the same as you.. I live in kent and my friends say to me I don't understand why you can't find a partner.. I guess not meant to be.. I like you enjoy most things in life I play at golf but not golfer... I would love to travel ,but not alone .. I was thinking of dating site , but then I'm not looking for an Italian stallion .. So think I might try this site as I just started on here so will see how it goes .. Not sure where you live
rony Original Poster
18th Dec 2015 13:44:19
0
Thanks for voting!
Well, thanks for the comments. When I signed on to this site, I did not realize that it was a UK site. That's fine as I happen to be an Anglophile because my Mother was 100% of English heritage. (White was the Surname) However, as similar as we are in many ways, we are, two countries divided by a common language, to quote General George Patton. Accordingly, some of the things that I may say will fly right over the "Chicken Coop" as it were.
Dawn51
17th Dec 2015 02:56:31
1
Thanks for voting!
Hi rony,,
How are you? I am new to this. Just looking to meet new friends. My children are grown and live 1,500 miles from me. We have moved to a warmer climate and I have made some friends, but still feel lonely. If you would like to say hi, it would be nice to meet you. Hoping to make some friends, dawn
Deee1
27th Nov 2015 23:00:08
2
Thanks for voting!
Rony,
You sound like a really nice guy and I suspect that you are going to be fine. Get off the computer and go outside and meet someone... They are looking for you... Trust me!!!!

Community Terms & Conditions

Content standards

These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.

You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.

Contributions must:

be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.

Contributions must not:

contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.

Nurturing a safe environment

Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.

We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!