How do you meet people in small town America?

[SexyRedmondCpl 128]

We couldn't decide where this post should live, so we decided it was a cry for help more than anything.

 

We're a pair of nomads whose travels have taken us out of the big cities (Boston, Seattle) to... well, they call Chattanooga a city, but it's much, much smaller than we're used to. Since we moved to our new southern home we've had a heck of a dry spell. More than that, we're mourning the loss of the friends and communities we had in our old homes. So, the question is twofold: How do you start building (lifestyle) community in a new city? And where do you all meet folks when there's not much nearby?

[cplnuswing 4,713]

I see you've got a SLS profile, so I would use that to start looking for events in your area and then start networking out from there. I know for a fact that Chattanooga definitely has a swinging scene. It may be a little more under the radar than other places since there aren't any public clubs like in Nashville, but it's definitely there. That would be another option too if you like the club scene, just make a trip up to Nashville whenever the urge strikes.

[SexyRedmondCpl 128]

Thank you! Yeah, I'm sure there's a scene here. I guess we're used to it being a bit more overt and hyperlocal. SLS events feel like a graveyard until you expand out to ATL and Nashville. We have been out to Menages, but it's more of a commitment than we're comfortable with on the regular. Still, all great advice. Much obliged. It may be that we ultimately end up starting our own local meet and greet while we wait for local events to pop. If you're not part of the solution, right?

[funcoupledayton 2,708]

Maybe try other websites like Kasidie or SDC? I'm not sure what is big in that area, but it may be that there is a smaller site that is very popular, so there's not much showing on sls.

[BobGann 40]

I had most of my beginning experiences with people in small towns in the Midwest when I lived there. You might be surprised at how many people are traveling to the larger cities to go to events. I think people in smaller towns are more open to meeting via the Net due to not wanting to play in their hometown and being used to traveling a bit for fun.

 

I"m in a larger city now, and as a single guy it is much more difficult to meet people than it was in a smaller town. People seem to be more "big party" oriented here, more events and clubs to choose from. Just remember, we're out there.....just might take a little more effort to find people than you are used to.

[Nubicouple 17]

We are here in Chattanooga!!

[SJBluebirds 195]

Surely, you can't be serious.

 

Chattanooga is 'small'? No, seriously... you said that?

 

Put a profile up on SLS, Kasidie, or SDC, and make some connections; there are PLENTY of like-minded couples near you. If you assume 0.5% of people are 'swing' friendly, that's over 880 people in Chattanooga just waiting to meet. List yourself in a different zipcode, if you're worried about being recognized. Google maps says Chattanooga has five or six different zipcodes -- pick one nearby as your home. Or not. Chattanooga is large enough that you simply won't be recognized -- you'll be lost in the crowd.

 

Coming from a village with fewer than 700 people ... I have no sympathy if you're not willing to actually do some looking or searching on the websites for couples in nearby communities.

 

And before anyone worries that we don't know what we're missing in a larger community -- we moved here from San Francisco/San Jose. The Bay Area of California is not 'small town' by any means.

[TwoFunTexans 103]

Our smaller town is surrounded by hours of nothingness in tx. We drive to OKC which is 3.5 hours one way fairly often. I see Atlanta is less than two which we have friends in another smaller town that's an hour 35 minutes away. Maybe being from Texas and having to drive for anything it's not too big a deal for us lol