Ready to meet new people, what now?

Hi Mum26
Read your post with interest as I too was/am thinking about meeting new people. I do have good friends but theyre either married, in a relationship or not interested in meeting new people.
I felt for a long time I would never put myself in a position where I could be hurt again. Following the divorce I am not the same carefree trusting person I once was. (Perhaps not a bad thing.)
I did try internet dating with mixed results. I found generally speaking most responses I got were from men up to 10 years older and beyond, which is not a problem in itself but I was disappointed to find there weren''t at least a few responses from men around my own age. I was not on the dating site very long so I may be speaking out of turn, but did wonder if many men perhaps do look for a younger woman.
I have decided, for me, the best way to start meeting new people, just as friends would be good, someone to go to the pictures with etc , would be through friends, colleagues and joining a club etc. I think meeting new people is a really positive thing to do. Good Luck to you

It''s just as difficult for men, more so over the age of 50, I am 51 and when I became surplus to my wife''s requirements I find myself in a strange place.

I think it''s difficult for anyone. Especially if you''ve had your confidence knocked and are passed the first flush of youth. That''s why I asked the question in the first place.

I do have a few divorced freinds who are now in new relationships and are very happy.

I''m in my 50s and faced the same issues as yourself. I had a high profile job and was well known in my industry so meeting someone through work was difficult, I also worked some way from home and the ex-Mrs seemed to take all our joint friends with her (probably because of the kids and their mums). So I was left quite isolated.
I tried internet dating and had some very mixed meetings, some had very out of date photos, some were damaged goods unable to get over previous relationships, some had questionable mental health and that''s odd because sometimes I question my own sanity!
But I carried on with an open mind, with the attitude that it was interesting meeting new people and it was better than sitting at home watching Eastenders. The perseverance paid off, I have been with my partner now for nearly 3 years and we are very happy together, we work through the challenges that come our way and we are happier than we have ever been. At last I have found my soulmate.
So my advice is to give the interweb a go, don''t expect a miracle, be patient, it might just work out!

That''s a heartening story, thank you.

Just want to add a further vote to ''meetups''. Personally I am a very physically active person and I''d like to think of myself as culturally broad minded. In discovering meetup I was elated at the variety of pursuits, entertainments and events. My own make up on dating sites really would have me pegged as a activities buddy which is a little disingenuous, so Meetups I seek, having partake in only 3 events in six months.
Primarily I joined seeking a parents and kids group to avail of friendships and activities for my kids. Glad to report all good there.
I would also report that within meetup groups (over 40 yrs of age) everyone has a complexity and passage that has been fraught to some degree. I find the members distinctly unwilling to talk of ''previous'' which is delightful because this draws us into the present to enjoy and have conversations regarding happiness and fun. And at meetups you have an array of people present to enable the escape from bore politely. Result. I head back to meetups on the basis that if I have an interest in the entertainment then I hope to find like minded people, without having to go through the shallow 20 questions of a ''date'' to discover.
In my experience, lovely people. Note to self, get along more often for there are huge numbers of members.
good luck.