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Good morning to you. I have awakened on this Saturday morning determined to find ways to meet other intellectual types in the suburbs.
We live in a bourgeoisie suburb of the sunny Southwest. Our neighbors are pleasant people; we've made a few friends with other couples in the area. But these connections are deficient in intellectual discourse. It seems as if suburban Americana lends itself to more glib relationships, leaving us feeling intellectually underwhelmed.
I would so enjoy an occasional intelligent, civil tête-a-tête, even if such a discussion must take place at a local suburban cliché such as a Starbucks patio.
My dearest wife and I so desire an evening of polite, educated company, yet we often find that discussions with others wander toward plebian topics such as ridiculous celebrity escapades and other trivial banter.
Our intellectual backgrounds often conflict with religion, and although we could attend a local service at a house of worship of some kind, we would rather not be forced to assume counterfeit pretenses for the purpose of meeting others.
Have you any suggestions about how we should proceed with meeting others like ourselves, in the rather spurious suburban culture of the Southwest?
I will be reading the responses you receive with great interest, as my husband and i are in the exact same position.
We live in the Denver area, and if one does not love the Broncos, belong to a religious organization, or have kids, it seems as though he or she simply must forego any kind of social life. (We are mostly agnostic, now childless, and we would much rather read than watch TV.)
I'm amazed that an intellectual can't figure out how to meet others interested in more than superficial conversation
Some suggestions
join the local historical society
join a local environmental, conservation, land use, etc. group
join a political party or other civic association
join a book club
for your ewife- join the League of Woman voters, the American Association of Unversity Women , etc.
Find your local colleges or universtiies and sign up for some classes you may find interesting
Attend college lecture series that are open to the public
More on colleges- look for Indie or artsy type film festivals which may have discussion groups afterward
Find your local Meetups- scroll through and find some groups that may interest you.
Develop hobbies- then find others with the same hobby
There is a ton of stuff to do that will put you in contact with other mentally stimulating people. However, you have to go out and find it. You can't sit back and wait for it to come to you. It's not likely to be your immediate neighbors. It will be your community. You can't be passive - this is one of those seek and you shall find type of situations. Start seeking- good luck
Perhaps drop the attitude that just because someone has children, believes in God or is into sports, they aren't intellectual. People avoid deeper conversations in early encounters to be polite. Find someone who doesn't have that filter to banter with. Or try to stop looking down your nose at them and get to know them on a deeper level.
Perhaps drop the attitude that just because someone has children, believes in God or is into sports, they aren't intellectual. People avoid deeper conversations in early encounters to be polite. Find someone who doesn't have that filter to banter with. Or try to stop looking down your nose at them and get to know them on a deeper level.
If you are referring to my post, I do not look down on people for any reason unless they are felons, too lazy to work, etc. Different people like and believe different things, and I did not say and I do not believe that I am better than anyone else because I don't have children living at home (now), I don't like to watch sports, and I prefer books over television. I am simply saying that it is difficult in our suburb to find people who like the same things we do (because churches, schools, and sporting events are all places where people congregate, while reading and nature trail walks are usually solitary activities).
I live on Long Island. I've given up and am moving back to Washington, D.C., as I don't consider Harry Potter to be literature, and I am not interested in the latest advancements in diaper technology any more than I am interested in the latest modifications to 20-year-old Camaros.
If you are referring to my post, I do not look down on people for any reason unless they are felons, too lazy to work, etc. Different people like and believe different things, and I did not say and do not believe that I am better than anyone else because I don't have children living at home (now), I don't like to watch sports, and I prefer books over television. I am simply saying that it is difficult in our suburb to find people who who like the same things we do (because church, schools, and sporting events are all places where people congregate, while books and nature trails are usually solitary activities).
Well I was responding to the OP, as could be gathered by me not addressing you directly.
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I hear you!
