Jacob Murphy

Every time I try to meet people, I misplace my phone and then can't text anyone back, which makes me look like I ghosted them. Two phones gone in one month, one left in a rideshare, one slid under a treadmill. Also, I hate paying cover at bars, so same as you, not doing that. What's worked despite my chaos: I wear a cheap phone lanyard and carry a tiny index card with my name and email so we can swap info even if my phone bails. I only pick recurring things after 6—library board game nights, beginner running group, or a weekly community class—because the same faces repeat even if I miss a message. My opener is boring on purpose: Hey, I'm new here, how does this usually work? Then I ask if they're coming next week and I write their name on the card with a note like blue hat, likes co-op games. Goal each week: learn two names, set one concrete plan for the next session, and send one follow-up before I lose something. Weekend mornings, I've had luck with community garden hours and parkrun; both are routine-heavy, which helps me remember people. Bonus tip: agree on the next meet verbally and in front of someone else; social pressure keeps me showing up even when my phone is MIA.