As we fall over the cliff that is “age 40″, there are fewer parties and social events to meet new single people. By this time, most have settled down with their families and their time is taken up with work and children. You may have to go out of your way to try new activities and create new connections. These days it’s possible to use the internet to connect make new relationships.

Here are a list of places to meet people over the age of 40:

1) College Classes: Taking a fun college class like art or music is a way to get out of the house and be around people that are doing something fun. Classes like these have college aged kids, but also older people that are taking the class for entertainment purposes. This is a good way to fill up time and have fun, while being around new people.

Classes that are less for academic and more for entertainment purposes are: sculpture, guitar, photography, film studies, and yoga.

2) Singles Cruises: When most people think of singles cruises, they think of the “cheesy” old sitcom “The Love Boat”. This type of cruise has changed dramatically, since the 70′s. There are many different types of cruises that over everything from a driving range (if you love golf), to art and music classes. There are also specialty cruises that specialize in unique things like archeology or art.

Finding the right cruise is essential if you plan to have alot of fun. If you want to meet single people in your age range, you should not go on a family cruise. Find a specific cruise theme that fits your personality and lifestyle.

3) Online Dating: Dating on the internet is one of the easiest ways to meet people in the 21st century. This will help with any age range, or any unique circumstances. Specialty sites based on religion, sports, and sexual orientation allow for the opportunity to very easily connect with alot of people with similar interests.

There are both paid and free dating sites that have advantages and disadvantages. Paid dating communities are walled off from the prying eyes of the internet. This allows you to do this anonymously, without exposing your pictures and personal information to the outside world. Free dating sites are ad supported and offer many or all of their matchmaking services for free. The main negative to free sites is that they are accessible to everyone. This might be the way to go if you aren’t concerned with anonymity.

4) Speed Dating: this type of dating experience allows you to meet 10 to 20 single people in rapid succession. Some people might not be comfortable with the rapid pace of these meetings. It may be difficult for those people that have trouble making casual conversations or meeting new people. But, if you want the quickest way possible to make some new romantic connections, this is a great way to get to know people without grinding it out in the bar scene.

There are also different types of speed dating including special nights for vegetarians, tattooed people, and artists.

5) The Gym: One of the most overlooked places to meet a single person in your area is at the gym. It is extremely easy to start up a conversation when running next to someone on the treadmill. It is very likely that you will run into the same people if you go at the same times throughout the day. These people will all live locally to you and it is easy to make new connections.

One of the better places to meet people in the gym are in yoga or spin classes. You will be in much closer proximity with the other gym members, and you will be very likely to see them on a regular basis.