I know there is no answers. I am at nine months and would find it hard to actually use the word date. I however have a lot of female and male friends but at this point I would just be comparing to the high quality that I found in my husband so I think it or he would probably just have to fall out of the sky ;)

Your friends who are not dealing with being a widow will have all kinds of suggestions, none of them helpful!

General advice is to wait a year. Not everyone needs a year, and some need way more than that. Only you can judge if you will ever be ready or want to date again. The pressure to date also seems to be worse the younger you are when widowed. I was 50 when I lost Cliff, which while older than you are is still comparatively young for a widow. I was the first one in my entire social circle (work, family, etc.). I had all sorts of opinions thrown at me as to when and if I should date. None of them were helpful.

As far as someone to hang out with, you will need to expand your social circle for that I guess. Most guys are not going to want to just become buddies to watch tv, however. That's not a down against the male of the species - it's just the reality of what is likely for a pretty, young, widow.

I would suggest that for the time being that you maybe try group outings and make friends. You can go to meetup.com and search for groups in your area - there is usually a dog play group or owners group wherever you are, for example. Or you can try doing some volunteer work and meeting people that way.

There is nothing wrong with wanting companionship and friends. The first year of widowhood, however, can be very tricky. The roller coaster of emotions continues for at least a year. Coupled with that is the common misconception that widows are easy or desperate, which can create problems.

I would wait awhile. I did. Anyway, you may also find this old discussion helpful - I wrote it years ago now, after Acuriousfish and I got together ( we met here in this group and have since married):

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Widows_Widowers/forum/9040500-great-debate-and-two

I hope this helps. You need to do this on your own timescale and not let others push you into it - or away from it.

Love and Hugs,
Martha

Just my two cents. At about a year I started thinking about dating. I met someone at 1 year and 3 months, fell head over hills, dated for 9 months, moved to another state to live with him. The night I arrived he told me he did not want to date me but I could rent his spare room. That was 5 months ago. I am now grieving for a failed relationship. Also trying to wrap my head around what happened.
I have tried just having a friend to hang out with. They always say yea that sounds good, but then they want more. So like Martha said I think it's a man thing.
So tonight I get to remind a friend I hang out with that I was honest from the beginning that I did not want more but he does. I did try to take it to the next step, but there is no spark for me. And I need spark. Probly a Woman thing.
Just be careful and guard your heart. Good luck.
Hugs, Sandi

Nothing wrong with having a friend of the opposite sex, to hang out with. nothing at all. I would wait to have any type of intimate relationship, until you feel your emotions are stable. It's different for everyone, and there is no timeframe. Be gentle, and grieve as long as you need. much love and big hugs carla