Loneliness

There's a report in today's Guardian which says that 'loneliness is twice as deadly as obesity'. Since my husband died I have started a new life in a new area and made some good new friends. But I am desperately lonely at evenings and weekends. I dread getting old on my own, having seen what has happened to some family members. I often think it would be good to get together with some like minded people and set up some sort of commune. I can see many pitfalls though.

Any thoughts?