Getting Out of the House

I am trying to think of new hobbies or activities I can participating that will meet certain criteria.  I am looking for fun, inexpensive activities that will get me out of the house and enable me to meet new and interesting people.  I want an engaging social experience.  I want something to exercise me mentally or physically.  In short, I need a new hobby, or at least to rekindle an old one.

Some possible candidates are joining a bowling league, taking up golf, joining some kind of book club or writers workshop, joining a religious organization, joining a civic organization, or getting back into marshal arts.  I am sure I can come up with some other ideas as well.  Right now, expense, driving distance, and schedule are key considerations.

If anyone, especially anyone locally, has any interesting ideas, please do share.  It’s just that I have now been single and unemployed for a while, and cooped up around the house allot.  Most of the things I do to pass the time don’t get me out of the house or interacting with other people, nor do they enrich my life in any way.  I have been spending allot of time playing video games, which is what I really want to cut back on.  I have also spent time exercising, doing house work, and practicing guitar, which isn’t a total waste of time.  I have even started writing songs again.  I am trying to continue my trend of positive activities, it’s just that these are all solo activities, and don’t really get me out of the house.  I do have an offer from a friend to come and play guitar with me some time, and my room mate occasionally wants bass lessons from me, but even these things pretty much just involve a couple of guys just sitting around the house, and aren’t a great way to meet girls and such.

Like I said, let me know if you have any cool ideas I should look into, and I will keep you all posted on what I come up with.