Masters Swim Clubs: One of the Easiest Ways to Make Friends in a New City

New in town? Find your people in the pool.

Moving to a new city is a common thing for many adults. Work transfers, needing to move to look after an ailing family member, retirement, or just looking for a change of pace can open up exciting new horizons in a new city.

But moving to a new town can also be lonely as you leave behind your old routine and friends, neighbors, coworkers, and acquaintances. Finding new friends doesn’t come as easy as finding a new favorite coffee shop or grocery store.  

For one, it’s not easy to make lasting friendships as an adult. Our modern lives aren’t necessarily built around community or in-person social networks, and it can be easy to fall into the routine of work and home responsibilities with little attention paid to finding positive social outlets.

Outside of work, most adults don’t see a mix of the same people day in day out like you did in high school and college. Sure, you might get to know the barista at your favorite Starbucks or the bartender at your local watering hole and have some friendly chats. But these connections are typically transaction-based; it’s difficult to build a true friendship in such situations.

But social connection is critical to maintaining good health and warding off loneliness as we age. Loneliness and social isolation are leading causes of health challenges, including dementia, in older age. It’s so dangerous, in fact, that in 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy declared chronic social disconnection a public health epidemic with a mortality impact equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day.

So for your health and well-being, you need to make new connections in your new home. The good news is, one of the best ways of finding community and friends is joining a Masters Swimming club.

How Masters Swimming Helps Build Social Connections

Adult friendships rarely happen by accident. Indeed, they typically require repeated interactions and shared experience within the context of a structured reason for gathering. And that’s where Masters swimming shines as a means of community- and friendship-building.

Many people join Masters to improve their fitness or train for a meet or race, but the social side may be the real health benefit. At Masters, you’ll find a ready-made community of people who share a common interest and show up repeatedly, week after week. This allows you to build lasting friendships and deep connections with others in a new location.

The wave from a swimmer at the other side of the pool when you arrive. The invitation to get coffee after practice. The earnest inquiry as to how you’re settling into your new place, your new job, or whatever it is that’s brought you to this new location can all provide a pathway into new, meaningful, lasting friendships. These seemingly small interactions accumulate over time and can grow into genuine friendships.

Masters swimming also provides opportunities to get involved as a volunteer or just to cheer for other swimmers. Go to any Masters meet, and you’ll see loads of people supporting each other—even the folks on their team they don’t know so well. Sharing a goal and being generous with support for others can also draw others into your orbit.

Many Masters programs make a point of organizing social outings and gatherings such as:

• Coffee after morning practice
• Weekend open water swims
• Group travel to triathlons, open water events, or swim meets
• Holiday and birthday parties

Participating in these outings isn't mandatory, but these activities create additional opportunities to deepen friendships outside structured workouts. And for someone new to town, that can dramatically shorten the time it takes to feel connected.

Plus, having swimming in common means you’ll never be at a loss for something to talk about, even if you don’t know anyone very well yet.

How to Make Connections Quickly

If you're joining a new Masters club, here are a few simple techniques that can help you develop friendships more efficiently:

• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before practice and chat with others in the locker room while getting ready to swim
• Introduce yourself to your lane mates and defer to the lane order that’s already been established until you know whether you should lead, follow, or move to another lane
• Stay a few minutes after practice if you can to chat with others instead of leaving immediately
• Attend social events and outings
• Volunteer at a swim meet or club event
• Talk to folks in the locker room and make an effort to get to know people
• Ask for suggestions or advice about local resources and services

And don’t forget to be patient! Strong friendships usually grow through repeated interactions rather than just a couple small conversations.