Retirement/finishing work

Don’t lose heart keepingquiet. There will be potential friends out there, but you will have to put in a bit of effort and yes, time, to find them. As others have said try different activities, you may surprise yourself, perhaps make an effort to try one new experience a week.
Even if you’re not a walker, you could try a group with short walks, they’re usually friendly. Our U3A do trips to cinema, theatre, gardens, or just a group for coffee or lunch. Book groups, or start one & advertise it on FG. Good luck!

National Women's Register is a good group to join if you are retired. They meet in each other's homes, so it's easier to get to know each other. Different topics are up for discussion at each meeting. There are various extra groups too, such as Walking French, Gardening etc. Our local group also meets at the beginning of the month for coffee and a natter at a venue in town.

Thanks Aldom- I'll look them up!

Farzanah- done walking groups and never made friends there. Book groups are not for me either.
U3A I'm still not convinced.
I know it sounds negative, but after a lifetime of these things maybe I'm meant to be like this!
I know these things take effort and maybe I give up too soon but my time is precious so I'll carry on being selective until I feel the motivation!

Aldom- I just looked up the NWR and it looks interesting, especially as there is no group here (surprise surprise!) but it may be possible for me to start one, which sounds quite exciting and maybe the challenge I'm looking for.
Thankyou for that suggestion!

keepingquiet I do hope you start a new group of NWR in your area. As you say, it could be exactly what you need. I live near a city and surprisingly there isn't a group in the city, just our group in a nearby small town. Good luck.

Did you have hobbies, interests before you retired? I enjoyed continuing with them but having daytime to devote to them and was able to take a more active role. I went to the gym, did some volunteering and was able to visit friends who lived a distance away.
If you want to feel valued there are so many societies, groups, committees, crying out for help.
And of course, you can do the ironing by daylight!

My main hobbies are pretty solitary; reading, writing etc.
Although you say there are many groups etc crying out for help I'm not hearing those cries, and volunteering these days, as I've outlined above, involves so much paperwork and finding referees etc it's more like a job application.
I'm going to see how the NWR pans out for now- but thanks for your reply.

keepingquiet. I always said I’d volunteer, and have looked into it, but have not yet got around to it. I just don’t want heavy time commitments that feel like a job. I am thinking about litter picking!

If you like solitary things like reading and writing, maybe you could think about doing an online course/degree of some sort? They can be quite isolating, but you also do get a sense of togetherness from the forums which these courses sometimes bring. I retired very very early, and took up studying. I started with an Open University degree course and am currently at a brick university doing postgraduate study.

Horizon- yes I think about litter picking when I go for my morning walk- but when I leave the house I forget! Must get myself a grabber and a bag!

Jewelle- yes I enjoy my slitude byt also want to be more socialble and on-line doesn't do it for me- I'm desperate to get off Grandsnet lol!

I think the NWR seems to offer me what I'm looking for just now, thought I may wonder what I let myself in for lol!