Hi Firebelle,
I found myself on my own after my mum passed away in 2017. My dad died in 1985, and although I have a brother, I don't see him very often as he doesn't live very close by, so, like you, finding it was not good for me to be indoors all the time and wanting to do something other than work, I looked for an activity to take up. For me, I thought I would look for a choir to join or some sort of excercise class. I couldn't find a singing group to join. I found one later on, but no longer felt so drawn to doing that, as by then, I had found a ballroom dance school to go to, which is very local to me.
I was very nervous going along on my own, especially as I am not young and not slim! However, it was an activity that my mother had always loved too, so it felt right. I have never looked back! I now go weekly and have made some lovely new friends there and really look forward to going. I have learned to dance, lost weight, feel much better in myself and it gets me out of the house. I found I didn't need a partner, as the teachers make sure they dance with everyone and other pupils ask you to dance with them too during the practice sessions. They also hold monthly social dances, which are also great fun and give me a reason to get dressed up and get me out from in front of the telly on a saturday night. Quite a few of the people there had also lost a partner and were looking for a way to build a new life on their own too, so understood how I was feeling, having also been bereaved.
My friend at work, who had also lost both his parents recently, decided to take a cookery class and found he enjoyed that. He is also looking at taking up counselling and attends sports events. Another person I know took over an allotment as loved gardening. Whatever you choose to try, you will end up interacting with others and will hopefully find a few friends along the way. That way you do end up feeling less isolated and that you are making progress in working your way into this new, unwanted phase in your life and making something good of it.
I think it is a matter of trying any new activity you have any interest in until you find something that suits you. If you belong to a church, they often run activities too, so that might be another avenue to explore. At the end of the day, it is about getting out and rebuilding your life and finding something you can look forward to doing each week, so that you are not left indoors alone with your thoughts and so don't succomb to depression, as can so easily happen.
Good luck, Firebelle! I hope you find something you can take to. Best wishes, Sandra.