On the contrary, you just bought yourself seven months while the economy is deteriorating and job market is nosediving. Consider yourself lucky, and pray that the top brass can stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
It’s a great time to do a masters and Ph.D if you are interested. This has echoes of '08 and 20 when it comes to uncertainty and potential layoffs.
Both of you are right and wrong, it’s not so black and white.
You absolutely can make friends, chat with people at the bus stop, strike up convos at bars, the local ski resort, bike park, etc. Friendships can naturally blossom into relationships (or remain friendships, which is healthy and natural too).
You can’t approach people and immediately ask them out, it feels weird and unappreciated (and that goes both ways, I’ve had a complete 180° role reversal and it was still weird and gross).
You’re young, you have plenty of time, and honestly the weirdest thing about all this is that your parents are worried you’re gay, like there’s something wrong with that. There’s barely any differences between genders, people overhyped the shit out of it in church, tbh.
Anyways, any% dating really doesn’t work, and I feel like your parents should know that. Don’t even try for dating, everyone can sense desperation. Just dgaf and focus on having fun and making friends. Love will naturally evolve out of good friendships.
Meetup.com has a lot outdoors groups for camping, hiking, outdoors skills, etc. Local outdoor climbing groups are also popular places to meet people, as well as climbing gyms, especially if you meet another solo autobelayer that needs a toprope pal. Your municipal community centers usually host things like dodge ball and other events. Your city is almost guaranteed to have one or two major cycling groups, which offer everything from queer history rides (gentle, 3mi rides) to 200mi long weekend rides.
There’s also singles adventures groups (a paid service) that do everything from high ropes courses to boat excursions to ballroom dancing nights.
If you’re a furry, telegram has a lot of groups for local skiing/mountain biking/gardening/rock climbing/cons/parties. Usually municipal events chats too.