Seniors Discussion Groups in San Diego

What is a Discussion Group?

A discussion group is when a number of people meet to talk about a variety of subjects. The groups can be specific to a subject, for instance, such as religion or politics, or more general discussing the issues of the day, be it celebrity gossip or the latest bestseller. Discussion groups are often run as part of another club or organization. For example, some churches run occasional group discussion meetings perhaps during the weeks before Easter.

Finding Seniors Discussion Groups in San Diego

There are many ways to find out what is going on in San Diego. Online services offer an up-to-date list of events in the San Diego area. Many local senior organizations or support groups keep calenders of events, and these will include any discussion groups or clubs. These are useful resources for finding discussion groups, as well as providing inspiration to take part in other local activities.

Some useful San Diego websites are:

• San Diego Senior Services Department - Offers a lot of information for seniors in the San Diego area.
• NCTimes - These are the San Diego Paper community pages, with a lot of up-to-date event information.
• Seniors Computer Group – SCG meets every Saturday at 9:30 A.M. at Wesley Palms, 2404 Loring St., in the Pacific Beach area.
• 55 Plus Women´s Group – A group organized online who meet regularly.
• San Diego Library Book Clubs – This site has information about book clubs run for people of all interests. Not just for seniors.

Other Types of Groups and Clubs

In addition to seniors discussion groups in San Diego, there are many other types of clubs that may be of interest to seniors. These include:

• Writers Clubs
• Book Groups
• Photography Clubs
• Cookery Clubs
• Birdwatching Groups
• Gardening Groups
• Walking or Rambling Clubs
• Sports such as Tai Chi, Basketball and Weight Training for Seniors

Why Join a Discussion Group or Club

Joining any type of group or club is important for many seniors. This is an ideal way to meet people and make new friends and contacts. Local discussion groups in particular provide a great opportunity for seniors to meet and talk with new people in the San Diego area. This can be very important, as there will be times in life when circumstances may change and it is important to form new social circles.

Retirement

The early days of retirement can be very strange for some people. After years of working and perhaps raising a family, suddenly, many seniors find they have plenty of time available and nothing to fill it with. Some people find this unsettling and strange, with the long empty days sometimes becoming depressing. A senior discussion group or other club is likely to have other members in a similar situation and this can be a useful way to meet new people who are also recently retired.

Illness of a Loved One

Sadly, when a loved one has a long-term illness, whether they are are in hospital or cared for at home, life changes. One difficult aspect for people with a partner who has a long-term illness is going out and meeting people. There is often a guilt about not being at home with their partner, or a reluctance to go out and meet people as this requires putting on a brave face.

A discussion group or other type of club can be very useful, as it is an opportunity to meet other people without having to talk about a difficult situation. Although there are many support groups available for carers, some people welcome the chance to take a complete break from their situation and discuss or think about something different for a while.

Loss of a Loved One

Rebuilding life after the loss of a loved one is one of the hardest challenges we have to face. After a while, meeting people and forming new friendships is going to become important and will help bring a new purpose to each day. Discussion groups are helpful for people who are in this challenging situation, as it allows people to meet and talk about different issues in a relaxed format.

Moving to a New Area

Often seniors move to a new area such as San Diego. This might be in order to be close to family, to move to special seniors accommodations or to retire to a place offering a good quality of life. As a senior in a new town, it is not always easy to meet new people. Often other seniors in the area have lived there for many years and have lifelong friendships and routines. A discussion group is a good way to meet people and to "break the ice".

Other Useful Information

There is an online community called MeetUp.com that allows people to make contact with and meet like minded people in an area. The San Diego section has a wide range of groups interested in a variety of subjects and is an excellent way to find out more about what is going on.

• San Diego MeetUp.com

Finding the right club or group in San Diego will bring a lot of pleasure and can become an important part of a senior's lifestyle.