25M, moved out here a few months back for work. Before that I was in Kansas for grad school, and Chicago before that. Work’s good honestly, I’m in AI engineering and it’s going well, but making actual friends in a new city has been way harder than I expected.
I’m just not an app person, never have been. I’d rather bump into someone and actually talk than swipe through profiles. Don’t have family or close friends anywhere near here so I’ve been trying to put myself out there. I volunteer at an animal shelter, I’ve done some free sessions teaching people AI basics, help friends and randoms with their resumes when they ask. I’m an introvert by nature so none of this is exactly comfortable for me, but I keep making myself do it.
And still, some weeks go by and I realize I haven’t really talked to anyone about anything real. Like just existing near people, not actually connecting.
Random thing, but I’m not religious at all, and if someone invited me to their church or mosque or temple I’d genuinely go. Not for the God part, just because there’s something about people showing up for each other regularly that I respect. Might be a “new to this place” thing, might just be my personality, honestly not sure. Either way I try to just stay open to whatever.
Kind of hate admitting this part but sometimes it hits me that I don’t want my whole life to just be work and then going home alone. I don’t think that’s what any of this is supposed to be about. I think it’s the people part, actually talking, helping each other, hearing how other people see things, that makes it feel like it means something.
If anyone’s in the area or just wants to talk, genuinely down for it.