Nervous about new group

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Hi all, just need to vent some nerves for a bit.

Quick backstory:
I have 2 close friends, both live far away, so we barely ever hang out anymore. I have what I would consider 'acquaintances' but no other close friends.
I have not hung out with anyone except my husband and his guy friends since my best friend moved. I know I need some friends outside my hubby and his friends, even though they are all cool.

So on to the nerves:
I learned to knit recently, and there is a knitting group that meets not too far from my house on Friday nights. I figure this is a good way to meet some women in my area.
This way we already have something in common (knitting) and eye contact is not expected as we will all be knitting.

Despite knowing I need to do this, and knowing that it is a good situation, I am SO NERVOUS! I am going tonight at 5:30, I have 4 hours, and I just keep getting more and more nervous.

Trying to keep a good attitude, and not allow myself to wimp out. This will be a good thing, really it will.

I'm right there with you! I'm so nervous about going to a new photography meet-up group. It's good for us, though. It's a shared interest and they are likely to end up being good friends. Don't wimp out. You can do it

Besides, I get to have coffee.

I made it even easier on myself, they get together at 5:30, and I have to leave at about 7-7:30 because my gaming group already has plans for a board game night at about 8.

So I have a reason to leave at a certain time and a safe place with self people to go to after.

That sounds good. Now, can you combine that with getting there right on time, or maybe even five minutes early and offer to put out glasses (hostess may graciously decline, and if so, fine, then maybe just talk casually as she sets up.

I like the general strategy of getting there early and leaving early.

That magic might happen, or it might not. And either way is perfectly fine.

Some of it is just that people are really busy these days. Or people are in different seasons of their lives, have different interests (ain't that the truth for those of us on the spectrum!). I tell myself, I'm going to try to stay open to appreciating the other person without trying too hard.

I did it! I went and I didn't freak out and it was fun.
I think I made an ok impression, I was pretty quiet, so at worst they think (correctly) that I am shy. I resisted the urge to ramble on abour odd stuff.

They were very nice, it helps (at least for me) that I was the youngest person there. I do much better with people older than me, as opposed to same age and I totally suck at dealing with people younger.

So yeah! Yay!!