I do like large gatherings, but I don’t really do well meeting people and making friends in them. I find it too chaotic and difficult to “be myself” with so many people. I also feel there tends to be more shallow conversation in these settings making it great for banter and social energy but less great for connecting and getting to know new folks.
I am looking to meet new people to be friends, as in capital F friend, not just a random person I know. Someone who wants to hit me up and go do something fun, check in on me and see how I’m doing, etc.
How do you go about meeting people and finding social settings that foster deeper connections?
I’d suggest trying to get involved with social aspects of hobbies. Some hobby stores can have regulars. There are often local groups or events posted on sites like meetup. Another thing is taking a class which might be about a hobby or as a way to start a hobby.
There might also just be social settings that don’t have large crowds. If you happen to be religious interact with that community more.
Interacting with people doesn’t mean they’ll turn into a friend but the key to forming a friendship is regular positive interactions. All actual friends are going to start off with “someone you just know”.
As a side it could help to manage your social battery a bit. Personally working from home has done wonders for me.