Looking to Meet New People in Orange County? Meet SoCal Social Society

Making friends as an adult is weird.

When you’re younger, friends are basically built into your life. School. College. Roommates. Your first jobs. You’re constantly surrounded by people in the same stage of life.

Then adulthood happens.

Everyone gets busy. People move. Friends get married, have kids, change jobs, change cities. Suddenly making plans requires comparing calendars three weeks in advance—and meeting entirely new people can feel nearly impossible.

It’s something Laguna Beach local Lauren Patrice kept noticing, too.

Lauren has always loved meeting new people and bringing people together. Over the years, she joined social clubs, golf clubs, wine memberships, sailing clubs and wellness communities looking to expand both her knowledge and her network.

And while she found pieces she loved, nothing quite offered everything she was looking for.

“I spent a lot of money on initiation and dues, only to be left feeling like something was missing,” Lauren says. “I would also get bored going to the same member clubs and lounges.”

Eventually, she decided to create the thing she couldn't find.

Enter SoCal Social Society.

One Membership, A Very Full Social Calendar

Lauren describes SoCal Social Society as a one-stop social calendar built around a simple idea: instead of joining separate clubs for golf, wine, wellness, networking and everything else you're interested in, why not create one community that lets you experience all of it?

“SSS was established with a vision to bring as many unique experiences as possible, all to one place,” Lauren says. “One affordable membership, with a variety of events, so you can carpe vitam.”

That's Latin for seize life, and it has become something of a mantra for the community.

The SSS calendar can take you just about anywhere.

There are wine dinners and golf clinics. Harbor cruises and cooking classes. Theatre nights, wellness experiences, philanthropic events and travel. Some experiences are created entirely by Lauren, while others are collaborations with local businesses and venues she wants to introduce to the community.

Her favorites this year give you a pretty good idea of just how varied that calendar can get: brunch at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, golf clinics at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, an evening at our very own Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, and an al fresco dinner at the historic Los Rios Cottages in San Juan Capistrano.

In other words, this isn't the club where you meet at the same bar every Thursday.

That's intentional.

Lauren says she wanted SSS to offer well-balanced experiences in different locations that allow members to learn, try new things and meet people without falling into the same routine.

But the event itself is really only half of it.

YES, You Can Come Alone

This is probably the part we were most curious about.

It's one thing to say you want to meet new people. It's another to actually walk into an event where you don't know anyone.

We recently joined SoCal Social Society for a brunch cruise around Newport Harbor with Port + Proper. We showed up knowing almost no one.

A couple of hours later, after brunch, mimosas, cruising the harbor, dancing on the back of the boat and a whole lot of conversation, we'd met people in real estate, marketing, social media, entrepreneurship and beyond.

And it didn't feel like networking.

That's an important distinction.

There was no awkward business-card energy or feeling like you needed to work the room. It was simply a group of people doing something fun together—which, as it turns out, makes talking to strangers considerably easier.

That's exactly the environment Lauren is trying to create.

“SSS was dreamed up and designed for the curious soul craving elevated experiences, for the modern professional who is ambitious in business, but hungry for more beyond it, and for anyone ready to trade routine for real connection,” she says.

And if you've been waiting for someone else to make the plans with you, Lauren has something to say about that, too.

“I hear far too often that my friends and acquaintances aren't living life to the fullest—waiting for a certain milestone, for work to slow down, for their partner to join them, for retirement, and the list goes on and on,” she says. “Life is too short to wait.”

Fair point.

Creating Connection Around Orange County

There's another piece of SoCal Social Society that we love: the events also give Lauren an opportunity to introduce members to local businesses throughout Orange County.

Some are collaborations with restaurants, venues and other local businesses; others Lauren creates herself. Either way, she pays particular attention to the environment.

“Ambiance is an important part of making people feel comfortable and open,” she says, “so I always make sure that the experience feels fun and safe.”

That combination—interesting experience, great setting and a group of people actually open to meeting one another—seems to be working.

Lauren says there isn't one friendship or connection she points to as the success story because she sees them happening constantly.

“Honestly, every single event has brought new friendships and connections with genuine souls,” she says. “I'm constantly encouraged to keep building the SSS community because so many people are connected through it.”

And really, that's the part that's difficult to communicate until you experience it yourself.

You might sign up because you want to learn to golf. Or try a new restaurant. Or go sailing. Or finally have someone to go to the theatre with. But you might leave with someone's phone number and plans for next weekend.

What's Next for SoCal Social Society?

Lauren's next goal is to grow SoCal Social Society to more than 100 members while continuing to work with local businesses and professionals throughout Southern California.

She also wants philanthropy to remain part of the community, with SSS experiences supporting nonprofits while bringing people together.

Ultimately, though, her measure of a good event is refreshingly simple: she wants people to leave feeling like the time they spent there was worth it.

More connection. More experiences. More reasons to stop saying “we should do that sometime” and actually do it.

If your social calendar has been looking a little empty—or you've been wanting to meet new people but have absolutely no idea where adults are supposed to find them—we'd say this is one worth checking out.

Come with a friend.

Or don't.

You may leave with a few new ones.

Learn more about SoCal Social Society and see upcoming events: SoCalSocialSociety.com