Dear Isol~
Welcome to the bb Forum. I guess it's a pretty good first step. There are people here with all sorts of experiences, some no doubt rather like yours.
I'd imaging you have thought of various things to do, some more viable than others. I do know getting started is a hard thing.
I was invalided out of my career very young, and was devastated, lost my identity and became quite unwell. Due to family pressure I took up study, which gave me interests, occupation, social contact and identity. There are all sorts of study courses. Perhaps doing one could be an alternative. A random example would be genealogy, put out by a university as a on-line course, HECs fees waived. There are heaps, and one does not have to be a great scholar.
Another thing to do is on the National library's TROVE, editing old newspapers. Some people find this fascinating - anyone can do it who has the internet.
Assisting at charities is always good - even if moment is restricted, office-work, meals, sales.
Your dog could be an introduction to another sort of group.
Training and becoming a member of Lifelink or Lifeline can use many of an older person's experiences to the good.
The common thing with all of these suggestions is that they would -for me - have put me outside my comfort zone and maybe taken some setting up, particularly if movement or finances are limited. Study certainly was a change for me.
Can I suggest you have a browse around this Forum and see if you can find what others have done when faced with similar situations?
Please feel free to post as often as you'd like, you will be welcomed
Croix
