The article on the LARP groups facinated me. While they tout groups that have been around for 15+ years, the Society for Creative Anachronism has been around for 42 years, and is still going strong. I find it depressing that researchers unanimously decree that we are loosing our social networks and societal groups when in fact, those "traditional" groups have been morphing into new ways of socializing all along. I don't think the USA has any less "community" than we did 50 years ago - I do think, however, that the community has changed from a localized, geographic entity into a far larger, more individualized-focus oriented sphere.

The difference between the 'new' societies and the 'old' societies is that with the old method, you got drawn in without much effort on your part.

You automatically attended the local Church, joined the local PTA, and so forth. In contrast, to join an organization such as the SCA you have to go out of your way to join up. The result is a fair number of people left on the sidelines who are either too timid to make the leap or ignorant of where to jump.

Very much what I was thinking.

I've spent 20 years playing in the SCA, and 24 years playing in Science Fiction Fandom... and on the east coast they overlap to a great degree. It is a social group, a very close one in all respects that I can think of, and very open and tolerant of new people joining/being dragged in by others/finding us and hanging with us. It requires some effort to keep contacts, over time, but I know from personal experience that the internet has made it far easier than it used to be. One *is* with people choses to be with and enjoys, not just because of some geographic division - school district/area chuch/neighborhood.

I have a high pressure, stressful and challenging job, that I really do like to do, but it's what I do, and I enjoy it, but it's not the totality of who I am. My life has been and is enriched by the people I have met, the knowledge and skills I have gained, (both actual physical skills, and social/relational ones...) by the experiences I have been exposed to over the years. I *like* learning new things, and these are groups that have a larger than average quotient of people who think that learning and teaching what you have learned is an ongoing part of living ones life.

"You automatically attended the local Church, joined the local PTA, and so forth. In contrast, to join an organization such as the SCA you have to go out of your way to join up. The result is a fair number of people left on the sidelines who are either too timid to make the leap or ignorant of where to jump."

With due respect, I think you're oversimplifying a bit. On the one hand, my experience with the SCA, like Wren's, is one of a great deal of interest in recruiting. Come across a group of guys in armor whacking each other with rattan swords? Start a chat with one who isn't fighting, or with one of the people standing nearby watching or chatting with one another. Many will explain, or give introductions. Joining is a quick bit of bureaucracy from there.

One the other hand, unless someone literally sees and drags you in (like what happened to me) or you befriend a member from elsewhere (also my story; it's complicated), it's easy to get overlooked. People get distracted by other things and don't always see you.

I think what ultimately hurts groups like these worst, though, is the size of our society and the humanity of the groups' members. If you don't even walk through the right park at the right time, or the right empty classroom at the right time, you may not see them or realize they exist. Also, the guy supposed to spot you and answer questions may be lazy and/or lacking in knowledge (volunteer organisations of ANY stripe takes what it can get help-wise). The leadership may get caught up in internal feuds and forget business or drive away members. One member may commit financial or legal crimes that bring the authorities down on the group as a who. I've seen one group whither because one guy was their rock; he died, and they drifted apart. Yellow pages and other maps aside, most of these things can and do easily happen with a more traditional group.

...active in regional non-profit sci fi conventions.

NESFAN? Lunarian? I've got a feeling we've passed each other on the way to a panel, dealer's room or art show sometime in the past 20 years.