It seems like the most difficult obstacle I'm facing right now is building a new social circle. I moved to a new city a year ago out in the middle of nowhere (although with some pretty nice clubs, its a college town) and with no friends. Luckily I now live with a good friend from my hometown, but he's not very outgoing. But its really hard to meet women with no friends or social circle. Its starting to feel like Ive exhausted every option and I just don't know where to start in expanding my social circle. I became friends with a frat guy I worked with, I went to some of their parties, but its pretty awkward not knowing anyone, and I usually just stand around for a little bit then go home. Ive made some small talk with people in my class but I dont know how to take things to that hang out level. It just feels like a lot of pressure and something I'm not great at to just go out and have to make new friends all over again, especially starting off with nothing and feeling alone. Any ideas on where to start?

Well, you can start by telling what are your hobies and things that you like to do in you free time. Whatever you like, you can join a group that likes the sam stuff and this will be your first circle of people to hang out. You said its a college town? Well that certainly gives you very rough chance to creat social circle don`t it? JK. Just be open minded, asertive, be positive, easy going, always have a nice smile on your face and you will have no trouble to meet people. With every person you meet, your social circle will be bigger.

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Natural supreme

I wholeheartedly agree with what Marco Polo says about attitude. However, I always tell myself that "A good time isn't going to come knocking on your door."

Again, like MP said, get out and start interacting with your community. College kids are usually quite open. Even if you aren't in college, spend time on campus, check out bulletin boards for groups you want to join. Check out campus/local newspapers for events or bands. If the community is large enough, there might be a weekly alternative paper that will have listings for shows or bar specials in the area. There is always a web site where people can Meet Up. (take out the space, add com), usually lots of younger people looking to do exactly that...expand their social circle. I've even seen some looking to start PU Lairs...

LV Gypsy

Strangers are my favorite people in the world to interact with! You never know what your going to get and every new person you talk to has a whole different view on life. The more people you know, the more you know about the world. Just live it up, throw off that happy friendly smile and personality and you wont have a problem, people will come to you. portray to the world that you are an interesting guy. When your at one of these parties, talk to everyone, make friends with everyone. That is what gaming is all about isn't it? It's meeting new people and expanding your social life. If you are the wild fun happy guy everyone will want to talk to you and they will be begging you to hang out with them. Turn the world into your comfort zone. If you can be comfortable anywhere other people will be comfortable around you.

I have the same problem, just different community. Being in the military, i move around alot, and adding in deployments, well you dont tend to spend alot of time in one spot, nor with the same people, so it's a real pain to meet new people. Actually i'm kind of in the same predicament at the moment.

I just transferred to Japan, and its been a real pain finding new people to hang out with. At my command, most of the guys are married, and the ones that aren't are mostly kids. At first it kept me from going out at all, cause i really didnt want to go out by myself. But after awhile i started to go out anyways, and i've found that in a way its easier to meet people when you're alone than with friends! Maybe its cause peeps can sense that you dont know anyone and want to be nice and show the new guy around, or maybe it's cause it's easier for them to approach someone thats alone and not feel like they're intruding or whatever. And being American and foreign here, with other Americans feeling the same way, might help as well...

Ok sorry for going off on a tangent, this post just kind of tugged a heartstring since I, too, am going through a bit of the same.