Groups organized around a shared activity — a book club, a card game, a craft circle — tend to produce friendships that last longer than purely social meetups, since there's always a built-in reason to keep showing up.
Where to find them
Libraries, senior centers, and community centers commonly host free or low-cost groups; Meetup and local Facebook groups cover more niche interests.
If nothing existing fits, consider starting your own small group — a single flyer at a library or community board is often enough to find a few interested people.