Making Friends as an Adult in a New City

Adult friendships rarely form from a single event -- they form from repeated exposure to the same people. A class, a recurring volunteer shift, or a weekly sports league works better than a one-off meetup, because showing up again is what turns a stranger into a familiar face.

Give any new group at least three sessions before deciding it's not for you, and then take the next step yourself: be the one who suggests coffee after. Waiting to be invited is the single biggest reason promising acquaintances never become friends.