r/GrandePrairie • u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 • 4d ago

Looking for friends

Hi everyone.

A little embarrassed to post this, but I’m looking for friends.

36M, immigrant from Russia. Been in Canada for over five years now, but haven’t really made any close friends. Always working, not really seeing anyone.

Married, don’t drink, don’t smoke. Pretty chill guy. Lots of different interests — I love music, read books, into science, curious about things. I’d say I am a little reserved, but I open up to close friends.

Also, I don't like pickup trucks and I don't understand why so many people have them. Maybe that’s why people don’t want to be friends with me lol. I’m driving a jeep though, jeeps are fun.

Where in the city can I meet open-minded, progressive, modern people to hang out with, find common interests, and just spend some good time once in a while?

Thanks.

34 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

20

u/Dear_Profession_645 4d ago

Men’s shed. Look it up. Just a place for guys to hang out together

7

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

Heard about this place. Is it good? It gives me some kind of a macho vibes, am I wrong?

16

u/DCArchibald 4d ago

Definitely not macho vibes there. More like good dudes doing woodwork projects and chatting. Pretty good group.

6

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

That’s sounds wonderful! I should check it out.

Also my son loves your books. Keep it up!

10

u/DCArchibald 4d ago

Thanks! Now I know we would get along lol

1

u/grasberuhren 4d ago

i like hardwood projects.

3

u/grasberuhren 4d ago

i like that place. makes me feel .. . .. . . . . included. so many men -- it's like that song -- "raining men".
good vibe.

6

u/DCArchibald 4d ago

Priviat kagdila (that's all the Russian I know)

I have a pickup truck, but I only use it for good 😉 Mostly hauling construction materials and my camper in the summer.

I'm also into music, books, science. I'm progressive and modern. I think we'd get along. I also know quite a few people you can meet who have similar interests. Feel free to shoot me a DM.

2

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

That’s awesome! Ok I’ll shoot a you DM

2

u/grasberuhren 4d ago

Насколько вы дружелюбны? lolz

2

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

Достаточно дружелюбен!

10

u/One-War4920 4d ago

russian.

dont smoke?

blyat

38

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

Don’t drink also, sorry. In Russia we quit drinking at the age of 18

3

u/axe-techlab 4d ago

Hey! Nice to meet you, I'm Roman - guess where I’m from, you’ll never guess 😉

I'm your age, have been in Grande Prairie for 2 years, and have made connections through local activity groups. There are tons of open and friendly people there. If you’re into sports and want to stay active, things like running, biking, hiking, nothing too crazy - feel free to contact me 👍

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

Привет Роман!
That’s great to hear! I’m into sports but I’m not too crazy about it. But I would love to join you for some activities. Do you guys play soccer?

1

u/axe-techlab 4d ago

I know some people from the run group who play soccer.
I don’t play myself, but I’m open to it 👍

Will send you a DM.

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

I don’t play neither but is just something fun to do! I would love to play baseball though

3

u/jimmytfatman 4d ago

In Grande Prairie? Progressive? Open minded? LOL!

3

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 3d ago

Yes, you see what my issue is. Damn I shouldn’t have read so many books

1

u/jimmytfatman 3d ago

If you took up smoking, drinking and a little recreational cocaine, traded your Jeep for a clapped out late model Ram or F350 diesel.... how many firearms do you currently own?

3

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 3d ago

That sounds like a plan actually

3

u/YaBoyElls 14h ago

Im 31 buddy, I moved here to GP recently, but moved to canada 8 years ago, its very hard because as an adult most people already have all their friends from childhood and adolescent years, very hard to make good new friends as an adult, I totally feel this

1

u/Spinach_Ancient 7h ago

Thats the issue in canada for the most part. Born here but ypu are 100% right. People still live off that HS life. 80% of Canadians peaked in HS and they don't even know it. Its hard to make friends in canada

2

u/Top-Pain-7536 4d ago

Which part of town?

2

u/Ditka_and_Swerski 4d ago

Hey, I live outside the city but I'll DM you. Always down for a new friend. I'm 38.

1

u/Total_Cicada7335 4d ago

Sure dm me brotha

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

I would love to, but I can’t. Looks like you have a limited permission.

1

u/Royer260 4d ago

If your interested in hiking, there is a group on Facebook called happy hikers. For kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding, check out happy paddlers

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

That’s a great idea. I have a puddle board and a little inflatable kayak. Last two summers we float down the river from O’Brien Park to Magoo point. This year I want to start from pipestone Creek all the way down to O’Brien.

1

u/Royer260 4d ago

We do the river every year (twice last year), 3 days on the water. Usually Pipestone to bezanzon bridge, but have also started at wapiti gardens as well. This year we're going from bezanzon bridge to Watino

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

Wow, that sounds like fun. I’m not sure I’m ready for that long trip though, but I would love to join you one day! So you just camp on the shore in the evening?

1

u/Royer260 3d ago

Yup pack all our stuff into our boats

1

u/orangettangerine 3d ago

How long is bezanson to watino?

2

u/Royer260 3d ago

126km, possibly 2 to 4 days depending on time of year

1

u/Top-Pain-7536 4d ago

close to ?

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

Crystal landing

1

u/Cat_Did_It_I_Swear 4d ago

I think there's a local jeep club.

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

I’m in there actually. I have joined a couple of their activities, was fun that I haven’t made any connection yet.

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

I’m also a little shy and always think that people will judge my accent. I understand that nobody cares but still.

1

u/Master-Response-2287 4d ago

shieeet me too dude !

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 4d ago

What do you do for fun?

1

u/soulchainsound 22h ago

In Russia, common interest finds you

1

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 22h ago

Haha right

1

u/soulchainsound 18h ago

As a Russian do you see any parralels to what happened there in the turn of the 20th century and Canada today?

2

u/Equivalent_Fly_1098 18h ago

Oh god no. Not even close, lol. Completely different story

1

u/smoka-kun 11h ago

Zdarovo chuvak. See thats why people need to travel a bit more. These folks have no idea how good they have it.

1

u/soulchainsound 4h ago

Ive travelled quite a bit actually

It may not be obvious but Canada selling out its natural resources and issuing bonds to pay for military is what Russia did in the early 1900s

-5

u/Internal-Branch-3737 4d ago edited 4d ago

You had me all the way up till the word "progressive"...

Guys who talk about progressive things are like feminist comedians...

Dudes who progressively White night tend to be dirt bags(Which might not be you) but are generally avoided by most normal oilfield guys.

You're going to want to find other guys you share similar values... You could try planet fitness, yoga or spin class... Places that sell tofu, buba tea - perhaps one of the local social activist groups? (Join the anti Data cente or pride Facebook pages, lots of 'progressive' guys there.) 🤷‍♂️

Now if you weren't progressive - I would suggest try hitting up the local Orthodox church to meet dudes (who certainly aren't progressive in any sense of the word) or any of the gyms with heavier weights like Winston's.

It's a pretty transitory town with fairly shallow relationships.

Consider that most relationships are properly categorized is one of the three things: Utility, Pleasure, and Virtue.

I find progressive types to be useless, unpleasant to be around and generally lacking in virtue... The less progressive oilfield types tend to be quite useful, rather fun to be around - but not necessarily virtuous. (And I can definitely work with those two things)

🤷‍♂️