^Steveinski, that means you get to try everything!
In the States we have something called Adult Ed--classes of interest for adults that are usually held at a high school after hours in the evening. I've taken foreign language classes, pottery (wheel throwing and hand-building), writing, vegetarian cooking and a salsa dance class. There are more practical skill classes like welding etc. Is there anything like that in Australia?
The other thing I would suggest is
meetup.com. It is a site where people can find or form groups to meet up to do things that they share an interest in. Maybe it is hiking, maybe films, but the idea is that it creates community and gets you out of the house and involved. I went to a film a few weeks ago by myself (preferred method for me
) and I was getting pissed off because it was such a chatty audience. Afterwards someone asked if I were part of the meetup group and they told me about what it was. Seemed like a low stress way to meet people as there are couples as well as singles, all ages, etc. so it doesn't feel like a dating thing.
Good luck. Personally, knitting is one of my all time favorite hobbies; it quiets and focuses the mind just enough to be really meditative but allows you to daydream and have your thoughts at the same time and in the end you have a hat.
And before you say,' but I said I was a guy', I have 3 guy friends that knit (as does Tommyboy here on Bluelight--check out his stuff on the knitting thread in SO).
