First of all, I want to say thank you to all of you you responded to my last entry.

The various comments got me thinking. Tonight after work, I picked up my race day pack from RunOn - got a free tank top and cap. My number is 1004.

When I got home though, I felt very motivated to look and see if I was able to find anything different. So, I did a little googling.

Most of what I came up with was similar to what I've found before. Except for one thing. DFW Outdoors. Oh wow! Remember I mentioned about wanting someone to go visit the new art exhibit? I mentioned something about wanting someone to go biking with, etc? Well, on this months calendar, they have an upcoming trip to the particular art museum exhibit I was wanting to see AND they have a river tubing trip planned, not to mention a bunch of movie nights.

Now. Here's the drawback. Membership costs $25/month, then it costs extra for whatever events you attend (with some free exceptions).

So, deep breath here. What if I commit $120/month to "socializing". That would break down to the $25/mo membership fee, $26/mo for two Vegetarian meetup outings, and leave $44/mo for DFWO events.

To do this, it would mean that my savings goals would slow WAY down. I don't know if I'm entirely comfortable with that.

When/if I start working one evening a week at the gym in August, that will bring in after taxes about that same amount -- so I might break even.

Pros:
Meet new people
Get outdoors, physical activity other than the gym
Have people to go places with, do things with
Maybe make new friends

Cons:
Savings will slow down to less than a crawl
Income from 2nd job previously intended as a boost to savings would go almost completely to this

I also think that I am going to join the DFW running club. It costs $25/yr and besides running events, also has some social events.

So, in summary:

DFWOutdoors: $25/mo base; budget $44/mo events

DFW Vege' Meetup: 2x/mo ~$26/mo

DFW Runners Club: $25/yr, some social events, volunteers needed at some races, special monthly club races

Start attending church again regularly: free

Will all this equal a better lookout on life? I guess time will tell, but mostly I think it depends on me. If I can get up the guts enough to cut back on my savings goals to do this.

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P.S. I signed up for a DFWVege meet - a brunch at one of the organizers homes. So that will just cost whatever the food item I bring costs to make. Yay!