Is it hard to make friends? (Pittsburgh, California: house, university, moving to)

[jillsifer]

I LOVE Pittsburgh. My folks were originally from SW Penna, but came to Southern California in the 1950s (although the Steelers fever never died, and never will, in my family). Someday within the next ten years, I want to get out of here, but I have the craziest fear about making new friends. I'll be in my early 60s, and alone. Here in California, I have a ton of the most wonderful friends on earth. People usually find me warm and approachable, and I know I'm friendly and open-minded but I somehow dread the idea of selling my house, giving it all up to move across the country, and being terribly lonely.

I'm familiar with the legendary warmth and kindness of SW Penna folks toward visitors--do I dare to hope it extends to new residents as well?

Can anyone reassure me? Thanks so much.

[BrianTH]

I find it very easy to make friends here, once you have a reason to talk to them. So my standard advice is to get involved in some activities you enjoy. Then you have an automatic topic of conversation, and it sounds like your personality will take care of the rest (you can also make a point of setting up outings or inviting people over, beyond your activity, but that will come naturally).

[AaronPGH]

It's easy to make friends if you get involved in your interests in some way. Basically, I'm echoing what Brian said.

[Faer]

. . . and if you don't it's extremely difficult. They are both right, but you'll basically have to do the lifting, since people here will otherwise just mind their own. I had virtually no friends for quite a while, then made a conscious effort to follow the advice above and now its a non-issue - many great friends. I also moved here from Ca, but am about 30.

[Goinback2011]

Wow, I really needed to see this topic. I've been having similar apprehension, so thanks for the topic, jillsifer.

[escilade18]

is it really much different in so cal. I would imagine it more difficult to find friends in Los Angeles than in Pittsburgh although I may be wrong. Just don't act the way South Park portrays San Franciscans (lol) and you should be fine

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by jillsifer

I LOVE Pittsburgh. My folks were originally from SW Penna, but came to Southern California in the 1950s (although the Steelers fever never died, and never will, in my family). Someday within the next ten years, I want to get out of here, but I have the craziest fear about making new friends. I'll be in my early 60s, and alone. Here in California, I have a ton of the most wonderful friends on earth. People usually find me warm and approachable, and I know I'm friendly and open-minded but I somehow dread the idea of selling my house, giving it all up to move across the country, and being terribly lonely.

I'm familiar with the legendary warmth and kindness of SW Penna folks toward visitors--do I dare to hope it extends to new residents as well?

Can anyone reassure me? Thanks so much.

Pittsburghers are very standoffish at first....then once you get them talking, it's a total 180. In short, yes it's very easy to make friends in the Pittsburgh area. The friends you'll make there aren't of the fair-weather variety either.

[Geeo]

Pursue your interests and you'll meet lots of people and strike up good friendships. If you frequent a church or house of worship, try that. Join some of the social organizations, volunteer for the library, get involved in political clubs, book clubs, investment clubs, the list goes on and on. Maybe even take a class or two at a local college or university.

[Love2Golf09]

I don't mean to sound negative, but SoCal's housing market is horrific right now and only predicted to get worse. There is no turnaround in sight for SoCal. If you sell 5 years from now, your value might be 20% less than what it is today. As bad as it sounds, you are probably better off financially cutting your loses and selling immediately. Take what you can get and burn every bridge back to PA. I have several close friends that moved from Pittsburgh to SoCal within the past few years. All of them came back during the recession with very little positive to say about the place, aside from the weather. Sell your house ASAP, get your check, then come back to Pittsburgh in style.

[Augie6]

I do not think you will have any issues... you come across as a nice genuine person.

This is none of my business and I welcome anyone comming into western PA , but why would you even consider moving to Pittsburgh? You seem to have a good thing going for you is SoCal why move when you are in your 60s and established?