alyssum

I meet most of my friends through local music, in all honesty. I used to go to at least 2-3 shows a week (if not many more), and strangely (especially when you take into account my phobia of cold calling people) I really don't have any problem just starting up a conversation with people. Well, sort of. I have to be in a venue I'm comfortable in... if I've never been there, I need some time to gauge the hostility level. If people are cool and relaxed, then well, you can't shut me up.
Really, though, when I think about my good buddies now, I either met them through music or I knew them in college.

Three main groups. One friend from high school and the extended network I met through him, a core group of college friends and their spouses, and a third group I met through my friend Mike, who tends to draw interesting people to him. I am afraid I can't really answer your question. We just . . . become friends. Who initiates what is not clear to me.