Ever miss the good ol’ days of when you were in school?

Not because you love to learn, and not because you necessarily miss Algebra, Statistics, English, or other nemeses of many a youth.  No, do you ever miss your old school days because you had a group of practically built-in friends and a core of regular activities, with little or no effort or creativity required of you, who would rather just know people than “get to know” people?

Now that you’re an adult and on your own as a telecommuter – literally or figuratively – you may even miss the good ol’ days when you commuted daily to an office, if only because that’s where you talked about the presidential elections, the OJ trial, your new haircut, and the trouble with Bob, the CEO who “just doesn’t get it”, with people who at least pretended they gave a damn.  Who’s gonna listen to you now?

Well, as a telecommuter, you can still meet people.  And while it requires slightly more effort than just showing up, the rewards are many; in fact, these are people who might one day turn into good friends that you can borrow stuff from.  Good stuff, like power tools and cars.  Ready?

Here’s how you do it:

1.  Try Meetup.com .  It’s a little cheesy, sure – but these are real people hoping to meet real people who are close enough to visit.  The whole point is that you will meet!  

2. Join a gym.  No joke.  Gyms are full of lonely people, and if you don’t believe that go to the gym and walk right up to someone, and ask them about the last good movie they saw.  Chances are, they will answer you – you who are a total stranger to them and could be a serial killer -- thoughtfully and honestly.  ‘Nuff said.

3. Get a dog.  Not only is the dog instantly your best friend, but he gives you a reason to go to a park and just stand around with people.  Yes, you can go to a dog park and stand around and chat with people while your dogs play.  Instantly you have something in common (pet dander in your car) and the potential for a lasting relationship with another human. Note: This technique will not end well if you don’t like dogs or if your dogs do not like each other.

4. Start dancing.  Lots of people dance socially, and these people like new partners occasionally.  If you’re not a good dancer or you don’t dance at all, that’s not likely to stop people from trying to engage you to dance – so even as you’re stumbling through excuses and holding up the wall, you’re likely to talk with at least a few interesting people.

5. Volunteer.  You’ve got a job, so you don’t to put in long hours anywhere.  But you do want to get out on a regular basis and mingle with other people.  Volunteering can be a great semi-structured social opportunity.  Why not volunteer doing something you’re already interested in – you’ll help the community, and you’ll meet a few people that are almost certainly not narcissists.  Jackpot.