So two years ago, I moved in with my sister, to a city 9 hours away, due to health issues. I'm now better, but ended up staying here for support. I'm all better now, and now living with my partner. Got the job I'm at a year ago.

I used to be a really social person, but the area I moved to is pretty much the polar opposite, culturally and politically, to where I'm from. Which is fine. I've learned a lot.  But I'm having trouble making friends. I'm sure they're out there; I've made one in two years, two if you count my partner. 

I've met people I get along with, who have different beliefs than me. It's totally fine. But one person I got along with was 8 years younger than me, and it seemed odd to befriend someone so much younger so I avoided any offers to hang out outside of work. Maybe that's not as weird as i thought? i'm 28, so she was 20 so it's just a whole different mindset and culture at that point. gen z speaks their own language lol. Or another person I will hear saying clearly bigoted things that I just don't care to be around. 

My point about this is I feel like it's partially due to crippling social anxiety. Like, some days, when I'm having a really great day, everything has aligned right, I can push myself to be sociable and it won't feel so awkward.  But most days I seriously just keep to myself and talk to some friendly people who talk to me, or there's this older man who is easy to make conversation with and always super nice. Otherwise I feel like an outcast, of my own creating. Because I didn't make a real effort from the start.

But my partner has never had a big friend group, and has had the same two friends for years. They say it's not such a big deal to find it harder to make friends as you approach the end of your twenties and also move somewhere so different.

Idk, this post is part vent and also just part wondering if anyone has similar experience/s and can relay any advice, esp on the workplace thing, and just like moving to a new place, not really of your choosing, and feeling out of your element. I'd really appreciate. Thanks if you read all this