4 ways to make new friends in retirement

Retirement brings on a whole host of changes, including more free time. One way to take advantage is to get out there and meet new people. Here are some tips on how.

Retirement can be an exciting time, but it can also be daunting to think of what you're going to do with all the extra time on your hands. It's a great idea to come up with new ways of making friends when you retire in order to feel fulfilled and have people to go on adventures or spend time with.

Having a dog means that you'll have to get out of the house to take him on walks, possibly get him training lessons and take him out to the local dog parks to meet other dogs. It's a great way to make sure you stay active and it makes it easy to meet other people in your community.

Fellow dog-owners can also get together for charity events or do work with local animal rights organizations, which are great ways to meet people.

There are probably a number of places near you where you can offer volunteer assistance. Anywhere from schools to non-profits to hospitals or shelters can always use more volunteers to help them keep their operation running smoothly.

It's easy to make friends by volunteering because you'll be working with a group of people and spending time together each week.

Many retired people make a habit of going to their favourite restaurants once or twice a week. Find one or two that you like and make yourself a regular there. Chances are, you'll eventually be able to strike up a conversation with other regulars, the owners or the staff, which is a great way to make friends.

You might find people with similar interests who you can meet up with outside of the restaurant, or you might at least find people you can have weekly dinners with at the restaurant.

There are many clubs that exist specifically for retired people. Depending on what your interests are, you can find a club that will allow you to meet people who share the same interests.

Book clubs are great for people who love to read or, if you're involved with a church, inquire about different church groups that you could become a part of.