Top 10 Places To Meet Someone New

Weekend Conferences

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.

-Tony Robbins

Going to a weekend conference will allow you to get to know people over the course of a few days without the pressure of pairing up.  Of course, if you do pair up, magic can happen.

Most weekend conferences are in the personal development sphere.  You know that you will be meeting people who want to make their lives better and their outlook more positive.  Tony Robbins and Marianne Williams both lead popular weekend seminars.

Weekend conferences are best if you're hoping to meet other people, because they offer more chances to socialize than daylong seminars provide. If the conference feels too pricey, contact the organization to and see if there's a way you can work at the event in exchange for free admission.

Another option is to attend a weekend conference put on by a religious denomination.  There are any number of conference centers that put on spiritual weekends, and some are just for singles.  

There are secular weekend conferences as well.  For instance, the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship sponsors an annual weekend conference for people concerned with and active in international aid programs and policies.  Usually this is held over Memorial Day.

You can also go to professional development conferences on the weekend.  These seminars let you meet other professionals outside of a work setting.  You can choose one specific to your career (human resources, marketing etc.) or one that offers a skill set (public speaking, leadership, etc.)

Finally, you can go to a workshop type conference.  These are most popular in the writing sphere, but you can also find them in acting, music, and fitness.

Get to know a wide range of people on the Friday night mixer.   Then on Saturday, you can focus in on someone who really interests you.  Perhaps by Sunday, you will be ready to exchange phone numbers.

Organized Trips

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."

-- Mark Twain

Similar to a weekend workshop is an organized trip.  These can last from a few days to a couple of weeks.  You join a group of single men and women who are interested in the destination and in having fun.  Many of the people on these trips are looking for a fling as well.  But lasting relationships also develop and many of these groups will hold reunions for several years down the road.

Some examples of recently offered single’s trips include:

• Albuquerque Balloon Festival (weekend)

• Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca (week long)

• Egypt land tour and Nile Cruise (10 days)

• Greek Island Cruise (10 days)

• 4th of July weekend in West Virginia (weekend)

• Costa Rica Eco Adventure (7 days)

There are also organized trips for singles of particular groups.  For instance, Jewish single’s travel is very well organized.

Volunteering

Never before has man had such a great capacity to control his own environment, to end hunger, poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and human misery. We have the power to make the best generation of mankind in the history of the world.

- John F. Kennedy

Today, volunteering is hipper than ever.  President Barrack Obama has called on the nation to serve much as John F. Kennedy did two generations ago.  

There are volunteer opportunities for every interest.  You can work to protect the environment by cleaning up a beach by the ocean or a local lake.  There, you will meet other people who are interested in saving the planet and providing a clean environment for all to enjoy.  Much of the work will involve physical labor and you will have the chance to interact with like minded people while doing good.  Afterwards, how about a date at a certified green restaurant such as Silvergreen’s in Santa Barbara, CA or Boloco in Boston, MA?

If you care about international development, you can volunteer for a short term overseas assignment with other like minded people.  The Foundation for Sustainable Development located in San Francisco, CA puts together opportunities for 4 or more weeks.  If you meet your soul mate on such a trip, you can always go out on a date at a fair trade coffee house afterward.  

Habitat for Humanity allows you to work on projects closer to home.  A group of people commits to building one or more homes for low income families.  Sweating all day in the sun with power tools inevitably brings people closer together.  Whether you go out as a group afterward or just invite a particular person out, the bond between a group that has built a home from the foundation up is very strong.

If you feel a call to service, your passion for the cause can be a great introduction to someone who feels the same way you do.  When you give back to the community, you will always get something in return.  Perhaps this time, what you get back is a new love.

The Internet

“I turn on my computer. I wait patiently as it connects. I go online. My breath catches in my chest until I hear 3 little words, "You've got mail." I hear nothing, not a sound on the streets of New York. Just the beat of my own heart. I have mail...from you.”

- From the movie “You’ve Got Mail.”

No, I’m not talking about the proliferation of internet dating sites.  (though if you are a woman, the odds aren’t bad on those.  There’s 7 men for every 1 woman registered on most dating sites.)

Instead, I’m talking about the new kinds of social media opportunities that present themselves these days.

For instance, when you get on Facebook or MySpace, you have an opportunity to find other people within your geographic area who share your interests.  When you get actively involved in the community, you’ll start making connections with others – possibly including your next date.

It’s not enough to have a profile.  You need to get engaged.  Comment on other people’s walls.  And, be witty, charming, or otherwise enticing to a member of the opposite sex.

Remember that people who are not currently your friends see your replies to other’s comments, so take action accordingly.  Also, try to make friends with people who have large friend networks.  This will expose you to the greatest number of new people.

Another avenue that the internet can take you in is through the MeetUp.com website.  While it has been around for a while, many people have not even begun to take advantage of it.

In any local area, there are dozens if not hundreds of Meet Up groups.  There may be a handful of members or there may be hundreds.  Meet Up groups regularly get together. It’s a great place to meet new like minded people.

Conclusion

You are no longer restricted to meeting people at the local bar or through blind dates.  When you start to put yourself out there, you can find a new love in a variety of places.

This report attempted to help you think about places to meet people beyond the typical “singles scene.”  For instance, 10 years ago there were very few dog parks.  10 years ago, the internet was in its infancy.  But these things have come of age.  

Take advantage of every opportunity to meet new friends, new dates, and maybe even your new soul mate.

And our final words are from Antoine de Saint-Exupery:

“For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow.”