Well, I know I am not actually separated yet, it is all set in motion though. I have been wondering about this as well. The last time I picked-up a girl it was by passing a corny note across the lunch room table in the 9th grade cafeteria. Talk about being out of the loop. Having kids at the pre-school, elmentary and soon the high-school levels I am involved in the PTA, Which I never really paid to much attention to the ladies there, but maybe I'll be more alert to that now. I don't know if Church activities would work for me since everyone at Church knows us as the family. I am not sure about match.com, my dad has a profile on there. Of course he met his third wife that way and was married for probably the happiest year of his life before she had a stroke and passed away. I guess I am hoping that my friends will be able to help me some. It is a scary prospect.

You know.. when you get our age..LOL your friends dont seem to know anyone. They are all married. LOL My workplace is a dud. I work with 99% woman.

It is even harder if you don't have a lot of close friends. I only have two or three close friends and they are married. I am involved in a lot of activities and volunteer for a couple of not-for-profit boards but all I have so far are a bunch of acquaintences. I am terrible at getting to know new people in any close sense even though on the surface I can chat and get along just fine. Work is off limits as far as I am concerned.

Yes.. work is off limits. That is only asking for trouble

Funny how gals and guys are similar.

I'm also a bit shy, not overly outgoing, or a church goer, or a bar fly, or a member of any clubs/organizations. I have also recently dived into on-line dating. Had some interest, but nothing concrete yet. It's hard and I hate it, but I have to put myself out there, because they're not knocking on my door.

I start up a conversation and if they are the least bit interested, they drop certain hints, I just ask for their phone number. I dont know if I will call or not. I normally just text them. It is safe that way i suppose.

My recommendations:
1. Try to find situations that are not high pressure (e.g. a bar Saturday night where everyone is trying to meet someone) - possibly through an organized activity such as a sports league.
2. Don't try too hard - be easygoing about the whole thing. Trying too hard can be preceived as desperation.
3. Find social settings that are out of the norm - the ones you are comfortable with are likely ones you frequented when you were married and are not great for meeting people.
4. Don't take rejection personally.
(disclaimer - I'm remembering from when I was single)