Cafecito

Recommendation: Cafecito

I've been putting a fair amount of effort into socializing, of late.

This is partially because I've been reading a lot about the psychological consequences of not getting enough people-time for one of my other projects, but it's also because there's still a pandemic on and the typical catalysts for meeting people aren't always in the cards (or prudent) right now.

I'm also a bit concerned that, because winter is coming and I'm living in a relatively northern latitude (for the US), there may be a sort of "social freeze" effect during which people become less outgoing, spend less time in public spaces, and are more prone to bundling up and nesting in familiar environments with already-close friends—which is not ideal for someone like me who's recently moved to the area (I've experienced this effect in several upper-latitude countries over the years).

There's of course plenty one can do in meatspace to help ameliorate such concerns, but I've been pleasantly surprised by one of the online tools I've been experimenting with as part of this effort to build and maintain a semi-regular social schedule.

Cafecito offers a fairly simple service: they connect you with other human beings from around the world for brief video chats about whatever you like.

This matchmaking is free, and you fill out a profile with some interests and some info about what you do for a living to help them find someone with whom, it's assumed, you'll connect in some way.

You also tell them which days and which times of day you'd like to set up these chats, and from there it's hands off on your part until you receive an introductory email telling you who you'll be chatting with the following week: you either confirm or say you can't make it. If you confirm, you then click the link they provide on that day and time to access the video call (which is perched on their platform).

Again, a fairly simple concept, but it's done well and I've had several conversations with folks via this platform, all of which have been really lovely.

In addition to just being able to meet new people and have a quick chat, I also like that there's a randomization element to this platform, which can expose you to people and ideas and backgrounds and beliefs you might not otherwise encounter, which I think is valuable.

Link: https://meetcafecito.com