[defrost]

Home automation gives you a line in to hook up with tradespeople (electricians etc), building contractors, architects that design and install such systems.

There's a challenge there to socially meetup and connect to develop work, a career, or just exchange information.

Social friendships might come out of such pursuits.

(FWiW I'm in W.Australia, > 60, and had an interest in version 0.0 Linux when I was porting Minux to a transputer array and eating popcorn when Tannenbaum and Torvalds were back and forthing on UseNet)