I lived outside of DC from the age of 9 until the age of 56 (I moved in 2010.) I used to do some amount of stuff with the museums and galleries. I've been fossil hunting with the Smithsonian, stuff like that.
I moved to a very rural area about a half hour away from Charlottesville and 45 miles away from Richmond (I'm on a large plot of land that's fairly isolated.)
I found a great Meetup group in Charlottesville when I first arrived. It was very loose...the groups was large and very fluid. Different people showed up at different events. Someone would post an event (movie, dinner, play, bowling, whatever) and if you could make it, you just showed up. If it required reservations, you signed up so they could anticipate the headcount.
I loved it. No one cared who did or did not attend any given event, and no one kept track of who showed up or who didn't. It was very casual. That changed when a new organizer took over and demanded rigid participation with tons of rules, including attending a minimum number of events each year. Due to the drive, I never attended that many events in the first place, so I dropped out.
I've yet to replace it. I still go on MeetUp every once in a while and scan it. Most of the groups seem like they are smallish and have more of a commitment to regular attendance. I just live too far a drive to want something that requires a routine presence. And I'm not interested in dating, so avoid those groups and events where it seems that such pressure might be brought to bear.
I worked for a non-profit for 7 years that kept me busy. I did field work and was Treasurer & general business guy. I really liked it. Then it went under (lack of money & volunteers.) I've not found a suitable replacement. My weekly church attendance and the occasional events there are my only routine activities.
It's funny, I recently went to an event on a college campus 50 miles away, and was talking to retired guy who lived in the neighborhood there. He was telling me of all the free events he attended on campus within walking distance of home. I was thinking how nice it would be to have such easy access to those things like I had in DC, and was wondering if my move to the country was what I really wanted. Then I drove away and got into traffic! I then remembered that there are always compromises, and I'm better off living where I do and making the drive to events than I would be constantly living in chaos.
Maybe when COVID passes I'll start perusing MeetUp again. Or maybe break out that community college schedule of classes I keep meaning to sign up for.
