My marriage ended at 50. I thought dating would be hard, but making new friends has been harder.

The author found making friends as an adult harder than she expected.

Courtesy of the author Divorce and an empty nest suddenly gave me evenings and weekends to myself.

My married friends were often busy with spouses, children, and couple plans.

I realized that having friends isn't the same as having people available.

When my marriage ended at 50, I expected dating to be difficult.

I had been married for a long time .

I knew nothing about Hinge, had never heard the word "situationship," and did not understand why grown adults were suddenly communicating via disappearing photographs on Telegram.

I was prepared to be confused by men, but I was less prepared to be confused by friendship .

I was an empty nester with free time My kids were away at college , and for the first time in decades, my evenings and weekends belonged largely to me.

This initially sounded fantastic.

I was single! Free! I could do whatever I wanted! There was just one small logistical problem: Everyone I knew was busy.

I'd text a friend on a Saturday afternoon: Want to get a drink tonight? One was having dinner with her husband, another was with her kids, and someone else was going to a cookout with three other couples.

Meanwhile, I had no dependents within 1,000 miles and a cute outfit with the tags still attached.

My friendships hadn't disappeared when my marriage ended.