Joined a random pickup basketball game at 41 and got invited back
There is a court near my house in Dayton that I walk past every morning with my dog. Two weeks ago I finally asked the guys playing if they needed a fifth, mostly expecting them to say no. I was gassed after 10 minutes and missed every shot, but one of them, Marcus, gave me his number and texted me that same night about playing again Thursday. I've gone 4 times now and we grab tacos after. I keep thinking about how I almost didn't ask because I figured I was too old and too slow. Anyone else here find a friend group by just walking up to strangers doing something they like?
The tacos after are the real win here. I read somewhere that guys over 35 have the hardest time making new friends, and it's not because people don't want to, it's because we all stop putting ourselves in spots where it can happen. You walk past that court every day, and so does everyone else, but somebody has to be the one to stop and say hey. Marcus texting you that same night says a lot too, he was probably just as ready for a new guy in the group as you were. Makes me wonder how many good friendships never happen just because both people are waiting on the other one to speak up first.