meeting friends

As a relative newcomer to Bridgton, and a married middle aged woman I am wondering where in Bridgton (or locally) one goes to meet friends. I have gone to the local library and checked out the groups offered...blah...and the eating establishments around town. I don't want to go to the pub alone since I am not trolling for dates, just friendship. I have gone to the local church but people are very cliquish and no one is looking to add someone they don't know to their group. I miss being able to just go putz around wtih a friend, or share a cup of tea or coffee or a good chat. Any ideas????

Welcome to bridgton! What are your interests? Have you been to Brays in Naples? They're a friendly well mixed group of patrons there. Good combo of mixed and singles just enjoying a good brew. Ricky's Diner and the Morning Glory have friendly staff and conversations between tables and booths with fellow diners. I dont know your religion but the South Bridgton Congregational Church has a small but friendly congregation.

Move out now while you have a chance!!!!

Yup - like I said, move out now while you can!

Hhmmmm - Where are all the wonderful, kind, Maine bloggers - not around??? Oh that's right - LaPointe story is over so there is nothing left to talk about - now I get it...!!!

these hillbillies know you are from "away" and won't have anything to do with you your kids or any kind of business you do. They are one track minded, stuck in the seventies and prejudiced

I look forward to coming back to the Lakes Region. I have been in South Florida for 14 years and plan on moving back there, if not temporarily. It is very cliquish, but there are alot of great people up there. Someone mentioned Bray's. I have been there on my visits and it is a very casual place with alot of eclectic people there. A great meeting spot. Good luck to you....

Couldn't have said it better myself....

been here a little over 2 years and have not met anyone that didnt look at me as "from away" - its a strange town - most of my buisness (carpenter) goes to out of staters or is out of town. Cant seem to break through in town though. Its kind of a bummer - I thought bridgton was such a nice town and I moved here from New Hampshire

Unless you were born, raised in Maine - you will NEVER be accepted. Spend all your money there, pay the taxes, make "friends" Mainers are their own breed - sad really....I've been there for 10 years and still...a "Masshole"

I disagree with the last post as I think though towns are as a rule a secluded place for "outsiders' I think that you can get "in" if you choose to. there is always an exception to every rule and surely someone will be kind and friendly towards you. I too am from MA but people don't know that unless I tell them. Most people don't ask where I moved from but where in town I have moved. And I haven't been labeled a "MAhole" either. Perhaps it is ones personality? Either way, when the original question was posted it was because, as in all areas, states, towns, etc, making friends can be hard if you don't fit into a particular group. ie; single or married with kids, of a particular church demonination and transfering to churches or in a specific sport/hobby. For someone like me whose kids are grown and not in the home now, or married but not socializing outside the home with my spouse as he prefers not to, not involved in a hobby etc, where do you go to meet friends? I wouldn't go to a bar alone. Don't know anyone to invite along who lives here. Have gone to eat a bit alone but people are hesitant to talk to a lone person as usually others have someone with them.

To I Understand wrote:

Unless you were born, raised in Maine - you will NEVER be accepted. Spend all your money there, pay the taxes, make "friends" Mainers are their own breed - sad really....I've been there for 10 years and still...a "Masshole"

You know unless you went to the same high school as everyone else, these people here are prejudiced. They drive by Somalians and scream out the school bus window "White Power!" Ridiculously one sided, don't ever try to do business with any of them, you will get screwed with a smile on their face and the stupid accent drawling all over the place. I cannot wait until the housing market is back on its feet so I can get the hell out of hick ville. You can have your frozen crap filled lake (from the people pooping in the ice holes instead of actually fishing in it). Remember that the next time you decide to take a dip in the lake. Why do you think Sebago has so many leeches?

Interesting though, the people in the Cape Elizabeth, Portland area are so much more well rounded.......

I haven't seen a single Somalian from away and if they are on a school bus I am assuming they are in school. Plus a few bad apples does not a town of bad apples make. I am going to give it a chance, just was looking for ideas of where to go.

From Away wrote:

You know unless you went to the same high school as everyone else, these people here are prejudiced. They drive by Somalians and scream out the school bus window "White Power!" Ridiculously one sided, don't ever try to do business with any of them, you will get screwed with a smile on their face and the stupid accent drawling all over the place. I cannot wait until the housing market is back on its feet so I can get the hell out of hick ville. You can have your frozen crap filled lake (from the people pooping in the ice holes instead of actually fishing in it). Remember that the next time you decide to take a dip in the lake. Why do you think Sebago has so many leeches?
Interesting though, the people in the Cape Elizabeth, Portland area are so much more well rounded.......

Looking for ideas of where to go? Go Home, that would be your best choice. Good Luck

GROW UP!!! seriously. This was a serious question I originally posted and here you are mimicing me and being just juvenile. not sure what your problem actually is or why you are so full of angst about Bridgton, but maybe you should leave if it bothers you so. I really have found it to be a nice and peaceful town. Friendly also. I just was looking for a place to meet friends instead of aquaintances. And no I haven't been slandered or seen any "Somalians" or heard any hate speech. Thank you to those that were serious in their comments and if you have had a negative experiance I understand. I think Mainers in general are a bit more aloof and reserved than others.

ps...I do consider this home. :c)

plenty of nice people around town, sure you'll run it to some eventually. when all the tourist go home but like one poster said. once a masshole always a mass hole. at least the ones i know. not that thats always a bad thing at least you know what your in for ;^)

Been here going on five years, and I am still treated as a ghost, I attend town meetings, local events, churches and still get the cold shoulder, I go into Tony's Foodland, Reny's, Ruby Food, Magic Lantern etc and they look at me like I don't belong, I even went so far as to help a large older fellow dig his car out of a snowbank, when I see him he acts like he doesn't know who I am.
Screw these people here with their Allen's Coffee Brandy, what makes them so much better than me?
One last question Mainer's why do you follow the Red Sox if they are a bunch of Massholes?

From Away wrote:

You know unless you went to the same high school as everyone else, these people here are prejudiced. They drive by Somalians and scream out the school bus window "White Power!" Ridiculously one sided, don't ever try to do business with any of them, you will get screwed with a smile on their face and the stupid accent drawling all over the place. I cannot wait until the housing market is back on its feet so I can get the hell out of hick ville. You can have your frozen crap filled lake (from the people pooping in the ice holes instead of actually fishing in it). Remember that the next time you decide to take a dip in the lake. Why do you think Sebago has so many leeches?
Interesting though, the people in the Cape Elizabeth, Portland area are so much more well rounded.......

From Away, You appear to have quite a chip on your shoulder. I didnt attend LRHS and I'm not prejudiced against.. IF a student was to yell "white power" out a bus window, That student would be walking, then suspended and then most likely charged with a hate crime. Not to mention that the student would probably lose most of his friends for being ignorant. I really havent seen any Somalian families in the area.. but if there are, I am sure most Lake Regioners would try to help them to feel at home. I am sure that most of your acceptance issues come from your own piss poor attitude.

wow...I frequent all the places you mentioned "from away" and no one treats me like a ghost. I am looking for friends, you know those you can call and ask out for coffee or share a cup in one of your homes or catch a movie with. But as for being ignored? Nope. In fact I get recongized and said hello to quite often in these places and even get joked with too. Perhaps you are reserved seeming or even shy seeming and thats why people tend to not interact as much with you. Plus you sound like you have a pre-judgmentmal attitutude about Mainers with the "coffee brandy". You know not many of them actually hold to the "Masshole" theory. Some of them say that and usually it is when someone from MA acts like one. Ps, I too am originally from MA but I just don't go around saying things about it or how much better it is there because surprise...I love Maine much better than where I grew up. I am sure there are other parts of MA that are just as nice as here though to be fair. Any how, this topic really was more about how to make and meet friends, not just aquaintances.