Simple Ways to Make Friends in Rochester as an Adult
Making friends can be hard for anyone, but it's especially hard as an adult. My husband and I were in that position when we moved to Rochester, Minnesota.
Neither of us are from the area and didn't know anyone other than my co-workers when we moved here. At first, that was all fine, we had each other, but after a bit, we really wanted to make some friends and meet new people.
In the end, we lucked out with a great group of friends that we've now had for a few years. It can be really hard to put yourself out there, but if you do it, you'll be rewarded with some great friendships!
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We'll talk more about how my husband and I met our friends and other ideas I have to make friends as an adult in Rochester. But first, what are some good questions to ask when you're getting to know someone?
Good Questions to Ask Someone When You're Getting to Know Them
Figuring out what the heck to talk about is one of the hardest parts about meeting new people. You don't know much, if anything, about them, so how are you supposed to start or hold a conversation?
I got these questions from Women's Health. They list a total of 260 but I just picked a few. Some of them may seem odd at first, but if you're in a situation where everyone is trying to get to know new people, these questions will be totally welcome and prevent awkward silences.
- What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
- What are your hobbies, and how did you get into them?
- Do you have any pet peeves?
- Would you rather cook or order in?
- What’s your favorite thing about your current job?
- If you could do it all over again, would you pursue the same career?
Another question that I've heard that I like is something like "How did you get where you are today? What's your story?" That could be career-wise, location, their relationship, etc.
But before you can use those questions, you need to meet some people!
Where to Meet New People as an Adult in Rochester, MN
Here are some ideas I have for how you can make friends as an adult in Rochester, MN. And trust me, I've been in your shoes looking for new friends in this town, so I know exactly where you're coming from.
Little Thistle Brewing has a group called the Do-Gooders who get together and, well, do something good! Make sure to check the Little Thistle events calendar for the next time they're getting together.
It may sound weird, but I've seen people post on the Rochester, MN Reddit page asking to meet up with new people quite a bit. So keep an eye out! Or make a post yourself.
Intramural Leagues
This is how my husband and I met our friends! We learned about an intramural volleyball team that was looking for more players on Reddit actually. We joined the team and now we have some great friends because of it!
Find a sport that you like and see if there's a team you can join. Or maybe post on the Rochester Reddit page to get a team together.
Religion-Affiliated Groups
If you're a religious person, there are lots of groups through churches that you can join and meet new people.
Beers for Queers at Little Thistle
If you're part of the LGBTQ community, there's a weekly get-together at Little Thistle on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM called Beers for Queers.
If you like to play board games, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic The Gathering, or other games like that, hit up NerdinOut. They'll sometimes host swap meetups at the store and I'm pretty sure people will get together and play games there as well.
Volunteer
Find an organization or cause you're passionate about and volunteer. You'll meet other people who are interested in the same thing as you, so you automatically have something to talk about.
Silent Book Club at Little Thistle
I know I keep talking about Little Thistle events but they host some great opportunities to meet people! Every once in a while they do this Silent Book Club where you come to the brewery and read quietly for an hour or so. After, you're welcome to stick around with others and chat about the book you've been reading.
How have you met new friends? Is there anything I missed? I'm sure there are plenty of other ideas out there that I didn't think about!
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross
