Have you hit the big five-oh? If you’re 50 years or older, you may be wondering how to find love after 50. Is it possible? How do you do it? After all, the bar scene’s just not your thing anymore.
This guide will help you find your perfect match, even if you’ve passed the 50year old mark. We’ll talk about:
- The best venues to find love after 50
- How to find love without even leaving home
- Places you can go to find a partner or a date
Ready? Let’s get dating! Here are the 12 best places to find love after 50.
1. Online dating sites
More and more, people are turning to online dating to find love after 50. Dating sites are affordable, accessible and convenient ways to meet people you might match up with, and you can do so on your own schedule. You don’t have to wait until the next singles group meets to find love – just log on to your dating site!
Be sure that your online dating profile is accurate, describing your interests and your preferences in a partner. Upload a good, clear picture or two of yourself, and represent yourself honestly. Let your prospective dates know that you’re looking for a partner your own age.
There are sites online that cater specifically to the over-50 audience, you’ll just need to do a Google search to find them. Joining one of these sites will help you avoid the young people who are just looking for a short term fling or, worse yet, the gold diggers!
- Online dating sites are, by far, the easiest way to find love after 50
- Be specific and honest in your profile for the best chance of finding a match
- There are websites that specifically cater to people who are over 50 – just search the web to find them!
2. Senior groups
No, you’re not old. You’re 50 years young but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of seniors groups. Depending on where you are, there are some organizations that allow membership into senior’ groups at as young as 45 years old. In fact, some have no restrictions at all. For instance, the American AARP allows anyone to join, regardless of age!
That said, most senior groups will consist of only people over 50, and many of those people are single, divorced or widowed. That means a lot of variety to choose from, so get out there and join a seniors’ group!
- 50 years old isn’t technically a senior, but you still may be eligible for seniors’ groups
- You can meet people your age when you participate in the hosted activities
- Some seniors’ groups are marketed that way but actually allow people of any age to join – you should take advantage of that!
3. Book clubs
Do you love to read in your spare time? If so, you can find love after 50 with a partner who has the same hobby that you do! Go to your library or book store and sign up for the book club. You’ll be “assigned” a book to read, and you and the group will meet, usually once each week, to talk about what you’ve read.
Book clubs aren’t just fun, they’re also a great way to learn about the other club members. You’ll also learn a bit about yourself, as you explore what books mean to you on a personal level.
- Book clubs offer a great way to connect with others who share your interests
- You can learn a lot about your prospective dates – and about yourself!
- Book clubs meet once a week or so, so you’ll see the same people regularly – time to get to know one another!
4. Lectures
Along the same lines as book clubs are lectures. Did you ever think you could find love after 50 just by listening to someone talk?
Is there something you’re interested in learning more about? Whether it’s women’s rights in 1950s France or the molecular structure of wheat, there’s someone out there who’s going to talk about it. Check your area’s university listings as well as arts and entertainment magazines to find out who’s speaking when, then go!
After the talk, mingle with people in the crowd and start a discussion with that one person who catches your eye.
- Lectures are a great way to learn something new – and meet someone new!
- You can find lectures on just about everything under the sun – just check your local listings
- After the lecture, be sure to stick around and chat with people about what you just heard
5. Travel groups
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can find love after 50 by joining a travel group for people your age. In this case, you might want to talk to the people who are running this show. With all respect, sometimes these groups include older people who aren’t as mobile as you might be. If you’re looking for something more active, these are senior travel groups you should avoid.
With that in mind, go ahead and see what’s out there! You can find your perfect match traveling locally or globally – all you’ve got to do is sign up. Many times these groups are all-inclusive, too, so even if you don’t meet anyone it’s still a nice vacation for you!
- You can find travel groups that cater to the 50 and over crowd
- Be sure the group you travel with has similar physical abilities to your own
- Even if you don’t find love, a vacation is in order, so enjoy!
6. At the health club
People over 50 need to work out, too. So hit the gym and find love after 50 at your local health club. You’ll find that most fitness centers even offer classes for your age group, so why not sign up, sweat a little and chat with the people in your class?
The health club is a great place to find people who are interested in, obviously, staying healthy. And health clubs are more than just working out, too, so be sure you look for a club with a steam room, a sauna and a pool!
- You can find love after 50 just by joining a fitness center
- Be sure to appreciate the perks – look for a center with a pool and a sauna!
- Sign up for classes that cater toward your age group to meet even more people you can connect with
7. At the art gallery
You can meet a lot of people at an art gallery. After all, what else is there to do but talk, other than standing around looking at art installations? That’s not just true for art galleries, either. Check out museums and other exhibits in your area to find love after 50 with someone who appreciates the “finer” things in life.
The key to finding your match at an art gallery is to be yourself. If you love a painting, talk about it! If you think a sculpture is stupid and pointless, tactfully say so. (Just make sure you’re not standing next to the artist him or herself!) Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, or know things you don’t. It’ll just end up in embarrassment for everyone involved.
- You can find plenty of people to connect with at art exhibits, museums and more
- The key is to be yourself – don’t pretend to be/like something if you aren’t/don’t
- You can find love after 50 at these exhibits simply by talking to people around you
8. Taking a class
Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn, but didn’t have the time or energy to learn it? Now’s the time – and as an added benefit you can find love after 50 while you do it! Go ahead and check out what’s available in the area. You can take a class through a university or simply find local groups who offer them.
For instance, you could visit the community college and sign up for an accounting class. Or, you could visit a local brewery and learn all about how beer is made. The choice is yours, just pick something you’re interested in and go for it! Even if you don’t find your soul mate, you’ll surely learn something!
- Taking a class is a great way to meet someone you can connect with
- Even if you don’t meet a soul mate, you can still learn something valuable!
- Classes are available both through educational institutions and private businesses, so look around for something that interests you
9. At special community events
You can find love after 50 by exploring the things you love. For instance, you can go to an antiques auction and meet some pretty neat people. Or you could visit a car show and catch up with people who share your love for all things motor.
There’s pretty much an event out there for everyone. Heck, you’ll even find conventions for flint knapping, if that’s what you’re into. When you visit these places and events, you’ll connect with people who share a common interest with you, whether it be painting pet rocks or playing guitar.
- Car shows, antique shows and other special events are a great way to meet new people
- Find a subject you’re interested in, then attend conventions and exhibitions
- There’s pretty much a special event out there to suit every interest, so use your search engine to find one!
10. At family gatherings
Have you ever considered finding love after 50 at your own family gatherings? That’s obviously not to say you should date family members – yuck! But when you have reunions, family holiday meals and other events, you can find your own plus one when family members bring guests.
Before your next gathering, let friends and family know you’re interested in finding someone special. Trust us – family will go above and beyond to play matchmaker for you. They’ll invite guests and give you more phone numbers and email addresses than you could ever use! Trust your family! They know best!
- Families are nosy – they’ll go out of their way to try to set you up with someone
- Let family members know prior to gatherings that you’re interested in dating
- That said, don’t step on family members’ toes – be sure the person you’re interested in isn’t dating a family member
11. At corporate events
Do you frequently travel with your company? Attend corporate meetings? Maybe your office just has a huge holiday party every year. Take advantage of your situation and find love after 50 at corporate events.
It’s up to you whether you feel comfortable dating someone in your office. If not, find someone in a different department or, better yet, a different company. Try not to date the competition, as that could get sticky. But do mingle with others at corporate events to find that special someone!
- You can meet the man or woman of your dreams simply by attending corporate events
- Use your own judgment as to whether you want to date within your office
- Dating the competition isn’t usually a good idea, as conflicts of interest could arise
12. In your own neighborhood
The man or woman you were meant to be with could live right down the street. You’ll never know unless you get out there and find out.
Attend neighborhood events like community yard sales and Thursday night mixers. Talk to the people you meet, and find out more about them. At any rate, it’s always important to know who your neighbors are, so introduce yourself and, of course, let it be subtly known that you’re single and looking!
- Neighborhood yard sales and mixers are a great venue to find love after 50
- Get out there and let people know (in a subtle way) that you’re single and looking
- At best, you’ll meet your soul mate – but at worst, you’ll meet your neighbors!
Conclusion
You’re 50, not old. But you may feel as if you’re done with dating, that time is up. That’s simply not true! You’ve still got the rest of your life to spend with someone, so visit one of these 12 venues to find love after 50 easily!
