Hi wingnut, I reckon I'm about 20 years younger than you, but I can certainly identify with what you said. I work for myself from home, so I don't have any colleagues, but over the last year and a bit (since I left the JWs) I have been trying to take every possible opportunity to reach out to people - old school friends, old colleagues, non-dub family members, ex-dubs, etc. This has mostly been pretty futile - I don't have anything in common with most of these people, but one or two friendships have started improving. My best friend is still a JW though! So yeah, there's no magic formula for this, but I guess just 'casting your bread on many waters' is the best policy if you can. As well as hobbies and clubs, there is always volunteering and charity work - which I want to get more involved in once my little'un starts school next month.