Meetups Are Great!

One of the best websites around is www.meetup.com because it's one of those rare sites that actually tries to get you away from your computer. The concept is simple: type in your zip code and your area of interest (knitting, nuclear physics, Italian) and a list of meetups covering that topic in your area will be listed, if any exist. In most any big town, yes, there will be meetups covering your topic, no matter how unique. I joined about a year ago to join up with other Italian speakers and have made a lot of friends through this organization. The cost is next-to-nothing, usually a couple of bucks thrown in the kitty to help the organizer of the meetup you're attending pay the website fee. Typically the meetups happen in restaurants, Starbucks, or occasionally in someone's home. It's not a dating service, but can you think of an easier place (if you're single) to find someone who shares an interest of yours than at a meetup specifically set up to address that interest?

I'm sold on the idea of meetups. In fact, I took over a local Italian meetup after the previous organizer moved and our meetup starts in 20 minutes. Oops, I'd better get going!!