We moved from North to South four years ago and knew before we moved we needed to seek out new friends . Unlike you we do have children and grandchildren but we do not impose on their lives nor them on ours. What did we do? Well, we found a brilliant Adult Education establishment that offered numerous courses and groups and we both enrolled onto various courses. We both joined a community choir, neither of us are singers but it is fun and an opportunity to meet others. My husband started guitar lessons and I joined a weight watchers group. We both joined the local U3a and the local gym, I went to the library and got myself invited into a book group. Through each of these things we have found new friendships. Some people are in a similar situation to ourselves, others are on their own, but from our experience, people are willing to make friends as, like you, they have possibly left work, left work colleagues behind and are beginning a new phase in their lives. And finally, I almost forgot, I got an allotment and I’ve met so many folk there, all willing to stop and chat, advise me where I’m going wrong with this warmer climate and generally cheer me up. So to conclude, after four years I feel we have been accepted into this community and we have made friends with several people. Good luck!