One of the things I really enjoyed was going with Karen's grandfather to breakfast in a small-town restaurant where he met with his longtime buddies. What was so special about these breakfasts was how the men related to each other-their wonderful spirit of comradery. Their gathering was special because it was like the Cheers theme song: “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.”

Interacting with others
boosts feelings of well-being
and decreases feelings of depression.

One of the things psychiatrists recommend for good health is to have a meeting place. My childhood friend Cliff has created such a space. For years, Cliff has been going to Starbucks every morning at 5:30 a.m. to meet with a diverse group of men. They enjoy each other's company and, on occasion, have helped or supported each other outside of their morning meetings.
Cliff told me that the coffee shop encourages people to use their facility as a meeting place. Karen and I have joined a local book club that meets at a nearby coffee shop.  Around a table, we talk about a book we are reading while drinking our coffee.

An article by Angela Troya in Psychology Today details the health benefits of having a meeting place.  A meeting place is healthy for us in some of the following ways:

1.   You may live longer. People with more social
support tend to live longer than those who are
more isolated.

2.   You will likely enjoy better physical health. Social
engagement is associated with a stronger immune
system, especially in older adults. This means being
better able to fight off colds, the flu, and even some
types of cancer.

3.   You will likely enjoy better mental health.         

Interacting with others boosts feelings of well-being    
and decreases feelings of depression.

4.   You may even lower your risk of dementia. More
recently, there has been accumulating evidence that
socializing is good for brain health.

The following are a few suggestions for finding a meeting place:

• Sign up for a class at your local recreation center,
  library, or university.
• Attend religious services at your church, synagogue,
  temple, or mosque.
• Volunteer at your favorite charity organization.
• Join an exercise group.  Not just will you have a    
  chance to exercise, but it is also a great way to  
  meet others and build a sense of belonging.
 
As a youth, I remember being a part of particular groups, such as Boy Scouts, church youth group, DeMolays, and baseball teams.  The sense of belonging made everyone in the group feel special.
Especially, during this time of COVID, when we all have been isolated, it will be healthy for us to find a meeting place. We all need a place where people know our name and are glad we came.