One of the most inclusive, satisfying social activities - which serves as a cure for so many of a technologist's ills - is one most likely to be dismissed out-of-hand.
This activity is:
* physical and active - you're required to 'get in' your body, which for HN head-types is very healthy
* extremely inclusive: your age, height, weight, athleticism, looks, coordination, social skills, background, race, gender, sexuality are all irrelevant to participation
* social, but not social: you have to interact to some degree, but it's not necessary to be a hyper-social extrovert at all. Participants can be introverted, suffer social anxiety, or fall somewhere on a spectrum and still be a part of this community
* global: once you master it to some degree, it's easy to drop-in to many cities and towns across the world and have an instant community to interact with
* intellectual, but in a different context: it's possible to 'switch off' from your day-job problem solving, but still explore and enjoy solving in a different, 3-dimensional space
Partner dancing is predictably dismissed by so many - particularly males - as they immediately self-identify as a non-dancer with 'two left feet.'
That's a shame because, in the case of the males, the gender ratios are often reversed compared to the tech sector: there's usually always women in classes and at socials standing out waiting for the next available lead to dance with.
Also, while 'meeting someone' is possible (as in any social activity involving multiple people) if that's part of your loneliness problem, it's not the primary focus for most dance scenes, and the requirement to continually learn a skill to a level of competence quickly filters out people who misunderstand the primary focus of the community.
Those that come with the right intentions and are single do often end up 'finding someone', but that's as a secondary side-effect (and remember the filter means they don't have to deal with a scene of predatory competitors)
It's really worth stressing the inclusivity bit too: is there a more inclusive group activity than partner dancing? Nothing comes to mind. Some of the most popular dancers in communities I've been involved in have been very heavy-set, or old, or not 'good looking'.
There are so many scenes to pick from depending on your musical tastes: Brazilian Zouk, Kizomba, West Coast Swing, Tango, Salsa, Bachata, Rock N Roll and many more.
As a non-dancer who dived in a few years ago, I wish I'd given it a go a decade or two ago.
This activity is:
* physical and active - you're required to 'get in' your body, which for HN head-types is very healthy
* extremely inclusive: your age, height, weight, athleticism, looks, coordination, social skills, background, race, gender, sexuality are all irrelevant to participation
* social, but not social: you have to interact to some degree, but it's not necessary to be a hyper-social extrovert at all. Participants can be introverted, suffer social anxiety, or fall somewhere on a spectrum and still be a part of this community
* global: once you master it to some degree, it's easy to drop-in to many cities and towns across the world and have an instant community to interact with
* intellectual, but in a different context: it's possible to 'switch off' from your day-job problem solving, but still explore and enjoy solving in a different, 3-dimensional space
Partner dancing is predictably dismissed by so many - particularly males - as they immediately self-identify as a non-dancer with 'two left feet.'
That's a shame because, in the case of the males, the gender ratios are often reversed compared to the tech sector: there's usually always women in classes and at socials standing out waiting for the next available lead to dance with.
Also, while 'meeting someone' is possible (as in any social activity involving multiple people) if that's part of your loneliness problem, it's not the primary focus for most dance scenes, and the requirement to continually learn a skill to a level of competence quickly filters out people who misunderstand the primary focus of the community.
Those that come with the right intentions and are single do often end up 'finding someone', but that's as a secondary side-effect (and remember the filter means they don't have to deal with a scene of predatory competitors)
It's really worth stressing the inclusivity bit too: is there a more inclusive group activity than partner dancing? Nothing comes to mind. Some of the most popular dancers in communities I've been involved in have been very heavy-set, or old, or not 'good looking'.
There are so many scenes to pick from depending on your musical tastes: Brazilian Zouk, Kizomba, West Coast Swing, Tango, Salsa, Bachata, Rock N Roll and many more.
As a non-dancer who dived in a few years ago, I wish I'd given it a go a decade or two ago.
Highly recommended.