How can i meet people in real life?

I'm an adult who has a very difficult time meeting people in real life, not because of shyness per se but it's just where I show more of who I truly am in addition to the fact that I live in the middle of nowhere and I spend my non working hours online...

or sleeping. I know that if I'm going to ever have a boyfriend again (it has been since 2003), it's probably going to be someone I meet online. I've met a lot of great friends (who I've since met in person, etc) from a club I'm in with a message board online, but they are significantly older than myself...aka friends rather than anything more.

I've got bad vibes from the idea of joining an online dating service, but would love suggestions as to great places online that I could make some friendships and potentially meet someone to date some day.

If you decide to do the online thing from what I've gathered, a lot of the dating sites out now are completely safe and efficient. Do some research of your own and find out which site would suit you best. eharmony would be one that I would look into if I was single.