Looking for a Group

February 11, 2011 5:26 PM

My wife is looking for a group to join in San Francisco with some particular characteristics. Any recommendations?

My wife is looking for a group to join which has at least some of the following characteristics: in San Francisco, meets about every 2 weeks, mature women (40-90 years old), psychologically aware, intellectually sharp, spiritually oriented (preferably Buddhist, Hindu, or varied), meditators, involved in mutual support, shared projects, respect for individual differences, maybe even a good book club.

She is: a young 70 years old, meditator, travelled to India and involved in a social welfare project there, writes short stories, semi-retired clinical psychologist, regular exerciser, loves travel, enjoys occasional thrift store shopping.

Hive mind, your suggestions please. Any recommendations?

posted by SamFrancisco to society & culture (7 answers total)

Meetup.com is pretty active here, that would be my first suggestion. Some meetup groups are more cohesive than others, so she may have to try a few.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:49 PM on February 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

I used to go to a Unitarian church, and some of our "chalice circles" (small groups that meet weekly for discussion and companionship) were pretty much exactly that.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:57 PM on February 11, 2011 [2 favorites]

Has she tried the Saraha Buddhist Center? (Since this is San Francisco, there is, of course, a Yelp page, too.)

I know that's not exactly a specific "group" that meets your parameters, and initially there would be a significantly wider demographic, but they have frequent meditation groups that might be a good window into something compatible.
posted by rkent at 6:15 PM on February 11, 2011

She should check with the Unitarians, yes. First Unitarian here in SF has all kinds of groups and activities. You don't have to belong to the church to be in a group.
posted by rtha at 6:20 PM on February 11, 2011

Seconding meetup.com. I get emails everyday from groups that are forming, some sound good and others not so much but there's something for everyone. I recently joined a French dessert one and a ballet one. Also, look in into the JCC, Jewish Community Center. You don't have to be Jewish.
posted by shoesietart at 7:01 PM on February 11, 2011

She might be interested in Co-Masonry. Unfortunately that site doesn't list lodges so I don't know for sure whether there's a Co-Masonic lodge in San Francisco, but of all the major cities in the U.S. I would expect S.F. to have one.

(Traditionally, Masonic lodges admit men only; Co-Masonry allows men and women, but is generally not "recognized" by most mainstream Masonic groups and I expect has many fewer lodges.)

There's also the Order of the Eastern Star, which is open to women who are even vaguely related to Freemasons. (Daughters, granddaughters, nieces, etc... )
posted by usonian at 9:38 PM on February 11, 2011

The San Francisco chapter of the Older Women's League is worth checking out.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:26 AM on February 12, 2011