I havent been just lately for various reasons, but find swimming very worth while on several levels. At the pool I go to they have a seat to put me in the water, which is very good, and to get me out of course. It tends to be quite painful for about 4 lengths, but then I find it less painful in the water, do about 4 lengths at a time and then have a rest. I usually do about 30 lengths altogether, and the best thing is that it is all less painful in water. So once I have done a bit, it allows me to straighten up much more and then I also go to the deep end and drop right down putting my arms over my head and stretch out. I always feel better when I have been. You can also have as much or as little contact with other swimmers.
I go once a week to a pub where they play what is called "Euro games" and these are board games but quite complicated and really mean you have to concentrate hard to play the games. Living alone , you cant play things like whist or other card games etc, and so this means both company of people who are a mixed group, where some are very knowledgeable and others more beginners like me. The good thing is that once you get started, it gives you some quite complicated things to work out, and this stops you thinking of any problems or worries you have and there are all sorts of people come to it, and something like that or if you enjoy whist or bridge that is another thing to enjoy in itself, but also you then have a pattern if you go regularly. This is very useful in the winter time, as you get into the pattern of going to the meeting, and if the weather is not good you still make the effort. I find bad weather, in particular lots of rain, doesnt encourage me to go out and in the dark at night. But once you have in your head that on tuesdays you go to such and such a thing, you make that effort and it is usually worthwhile, both to get out and about, meet other people and quite often someone there will mention something else happening in the town , whether it is a coffee morning or something happening in the town hall or whatever, which keeps you up to date and encourages you to try a variety of things. If you go to your local library, besides all the books and papers etc they usually have a list of all the various clubs and up to date contacts which you can look up and see if there is something that appeals. If you enjoy singing there is usually a variety of choirs and music groups that you could join.
One last thing you might consider. I have done a lot of driving and happy to drive in any conditions whether motorway or tiny roads over the moors etc. I have sometimes taken friends but also in a group I go to , there are several people who no longer drive, and so I have offered to take people to the coast or up the dales. We share the cost of the fuel, I pick people up from their homes and of course return them too. My offer is to take them wherever and once we get there everyone does whatever they want , we do not stay together unless we particularly want to go to the same thing. I have found people in the beginning think it sounds a bit unsociable but actually then say how much they enjoy actually having a day to do exactly what they want and not have to fit in with anyone else. So at the coast, I would rather be on the promenade and with my binoculars watching ships and birds etc and never go to the shops etc. I have also taken someone to visit a village that they used to live in, which does not have any bus there now. I was happy to do the driving and they were able to visit old friends. so if you are a driver, something like this might be interesting. There will be lots of charities and things like hospital car where they would be glad to have volunteer drivers too. Hope something here appeals to you
