But, how do I go about doing so and, more importantly, while being cost and time effective?

I was thinking of seeing about the local book group at the local library, but the next meeting is on Tuesday and I haven't read the particular book.

I'd go play Scrabble with the Scrabble club, but the cost of Metro (train) went up and I don't like going out and about after work. That and the Scrabble games often revolve around dinner - which I can't afford.

So, the "social" event has to be cheap (i.e. free) and on the weekend.

Any thoughts?

- Serenity

How about volunteering at a feed-the-poor place? Your willingness to work there will be so appreciated that any social missteps will be overlooked, and the other volunteers are going to be well worth knowing, or they wouldn't have volunteered.

Just a thought.

If I could find one lol But good suggestion ...

At the moment, my main mode of transportation is bus and walking. I won't be able to use my bike until the weather stays above 60...

- Serenity

http://mannafood.org/volunteer.html

Once you've been there a couple of times, I bet someone would volunteer to drive you back and forth.

One great thing about helping those worse off than yourself - meeting them puts your own problems in perspective.

Yeah, things could be worse.

But sometimes, things have been worse and so knowing that things could always be worse doesn't help. If it weren't for the tax refunds, I'd be having to ask for help this coming month for food...

I still can't turn on the heat - too expensive.

- Serenity

have you looked into speed dating? I don't know when where or how much. then again I couldn't consider it because then I'd have to interact with a lot of different people. this is of course hypothetically being single.

you made me laugh, you are asking a bunch of aspies how to socialize! don't you realize that social ineptness is our trademark? if we had a clue how to socialize we might not be an aspie.

honestly though I wish I had an answer for you but I don't have the slightest clue how to socialize. which is why I only have 1 friend and even then there really isn't much of anything as we dont do much if anything together.

A very shy friend of mine (not Aspie) has been thriving for 5 years now on dating sites.

He posts his info, along with his photo (late 40s, bald, but in excellent physical shape and in good financial position - all a big issue issue if you're a guy seeking women on those sites).

He gets tons of responses, and feels confident because the women who don't like bald guys don't respond.

He spends a lot of time online before he ever meets up with anyone.....

Honestly, I'd rather spend the rest of my life alone (a fairly realistic prospect as far as I can see, unfortunately) than try my luck at one of those Internet dating sites. God knows what I'd dredge up around here...this place has some "interesting" characters, to say the least...

Re: Serenity, I think the book club at the library is a great idea. It's free, and you can check the book out at the library, I'm sure. Try for the next book club meeting, just make sure you read the book first, LOL! =)

My best buddy (only buddy) tried speed dating, and everyone was excited about how 'nice' he was. Then he would get no hits at all. With speed dating, each party fills out a card showing their interest in all the others they interact with at the event. So, they may have to list their interest level in 20 or more people. When each party lists the other as "a person of interest" it is a good thing (unlike the police 'person of interest', which is a bad thing).
Anyway, no matter how much he thought he was attractive or interesting to the girls, he never got a 'hit'. He finally decided that maybe he was attracted to girls who didn't find him attractive, and that he should be trying to get together with some of those mysterious 'others' (not the kind of 'others' as on the TV show "Lost".) To make a long story short (too friggin' late for that, everyone mumbles) he marked down EVERY girl as being of interest, and found out, much to his horror, NOBODY matched, which means everyone disliked him.
So, not being deterred completely, he came up with the idea of buying a franchise for speed dating, so that he could at least interact with each of the girls a bit, even if it would not be a permanent thing in the least. Sadly, the franchise fee was too great and the rules too strict, so he gave up. Then he found someone through work connections and all is well.

They franchise this sh*t??? Like a McDonald's for the lonely-hearts crowd?


That's too funny, Bart.

I guess I'll just stick with walking around the park in a floor-length mack, casting shifty glances at passers-by and mumbling to myself. It hasn't worked in getting me a date so far, but you never know...