Some might scoff at this, but conventions are a great place to meet people - and you never know where that could lead. (I met my bf at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. A friend of mine also met her bf there, and I have many friends in fandom, in various cities, who have met their significant others at conventions.)
I think it's time to return to conventions!

Oddly enough - I have found it a great place to meet people and was always pleasantly surprised to find other geeks with my filthy sense of humour.