Oh, I'll play!
- Began with my HOA. Attended meetings, then ran for the Board. Did that for a decade until I sold the townhouse.
- I started as a Friends of the Library volunteer. Eventually was asked to join Friends Board.
- Next was asked to join bigger Library Foundation Board.
- City started Community Service Day Project. One day, fifty projects, 1500 volunteers. I joined the initial Steering Committee. This is our sixth year and now I'm Co-Chair.
- Was Treasurer for a friend's City Council Re-election Campaign.
- Became a volunteer usher at our large regional theater, also a season ticket holder and patron.
- Joined an Arts League, as something I could do with my MIL, who has Alzheimer's. Now I'm on that board.
My goal was to wonder how I ever found time to work. I'm there now, but I also love to maintain completely unscheduled days or better still, chunks of days. I have made scores of friends.
Just as the snowball technique works for conquering debt, it will also work for building a social network. Start somewhere. I love to read, hate paying retail for books, hate paying library fines. By volunteering at the library book sales, I never pay more than $1/book, never pay fines, always have fresh material at hand. Win-win that literally changed my life.