When you’re getting up early to leave the house and commute to work, and not coming home until 6 or even 7 o’clock, you don’t necessarily notice that everyone else in the neighbourhood is doing the same thing. But when you finally get to retire, you notice just how quiet everything gets during the day, and just what a missed opportunity it is.
Meeting new friends later in life can be a challenge. You’ve just spent decades dedicated to your career and raising a family, and in that time, it’s common to start losing touch with friends who are likewise busy with their family and work lives. In fact, social studies now show that the average age when people begin to lose friends is 25.
Now that you have more time on your hands, it’s a great opportunity to start reconnecting – the trouble is, not everyone you know has also retired as well. Your spouse may even still be working. So how do you make new friends?
Moving to an Adult Lifestyle Community
Many couples decide to move when they retire. They have a chance to upgrade their home, move out of the city to a destination they’ve always loved, and maybe find a place where they don’t need to worry about exterior maintenance like a condo or townhome.
One of the advantages of living in one of our adult communities is that your neighbours are at a similar stage as you. They’ve got more freedom to enjoy life to the fullest. They’re living active lifestyles, enjoying the local arts and culture in Niagara, travelling, golfing, biking, volunteering, and more.
When you move into an adult lifestyle community, there are more people around and neighbours who are at your speed.
Great Activities for Meeting New Friends
Common interests are the backbone of any good friendship, so one of the best things you can do for your social life is participating in activities you already enjoy.
#1 Join a Bicycle Club
A bicycle club is just like a jogging group but for cyclists. It’s a chance to hit the trails with others who have a passion for cycling, and it may be an opportunity to learn things like:
- Better bike handling
- Riding in close proximity to others
- New cycling routes
In the Niagara Region, there are some incredible biking trails right in your backyard, such as the 56-kilometer Niagara River Recreational Trail. Whether you go with a bicycle club or just with some friends, it’s an incredibly scenic ride that passes by wineries, historic sites, and the Niagara Falls.
#2 See What’s Going on at the Local Community Centre
Local community and recreation centres are social hubs of activity in their neighbourhoods. See what’s going on and if there’s anything that interests you. This is where you can learn about sports teams, meetups, volunteer opportunities, and more.
#3 Start Hosting
When you own a custom home in Niagara by Blythwood Homes, you’ve got great space for entertaining. All of our detached bungalows and bungalow townhomes have garden terraces that are simply perfect for hosting in spring, summer, and fall. Townhome terraces are tactfully designed for maximum privacy using a wood privacy fence, trees, and hedges. They make an amazing space for barbecuing, cocktails, and trying great local wines with your new neighbours, friends, and family.
Enjoy the Niagara sunset from your own backyard in good company.
#4 Find Your Local Spot
Another way you can meet new people who are open to chatting is finding a regular spot, like a restaurant, coffee shop, or pub where people can go, linger, and mingle. Once you find a place that you like, make a habit of visiting, especially during off-hours. As you see the same people, you can start finding common ground
Finding a place where you’re recognized and know others is known as a “third place,” somewhere that’s not home or at work where you can relax and socialize. There are tons of great local spots in Niagara near our communities within walking distance or a short drive.
#5 Volunteer
Giving back to the community is another way you can make friends and build closer bonds with the area. Donate your time to a local cause that you’re interested in, and you’re bound to meet people who share your passion for volunteering and interests.
#6 Find Some Golfing Partners
Niagara has some of the best golfing in Canada. There are dozens of world-class golf courses in the area, including three championship 18-hole courses. If you’re a golfer, you’ll quickly find people in the neighbourhood to tee off with. Joining a local golf club is a quick way to meet others who enjoy spending the day on the golf course.
Quality Homes in Niagara-on-the-Lake
If you’re thinking about moving, why not visit Niagara and find out why Niagara-on-the-Lake is Ontario’s most sought after community. There is so much to enjoy and experience, you’ll soon find out what makes this corner of the world so special. Come for dinner, see a play at the Shaw Festival and visit a winery.
We take pride in the architecture, design, and quality of our homes. Contact our office and register for a custom home or move-in-ready home in The Vintages at Four Mile Creek, our latest adult living community in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Traditional architecture and modern construction elevate our homes to a new level of elegance.
We also build energy efficient homes that are Energy Star Certified. The materials used in the construction of your home make a big difference on your energy consumption. Energy Star Certification can save you up to 30% on your bills, using energy efficient windows and doors, insulation, heating and cooling, and appliances.
Living in an adult lifestyle community puts you in a neighbourhood with people at a similar stage in life: ready to enjoy the finer things, make new friends, and get out and explore.