I work remotely so I'd like to network with people in my area, to build professional relationships, maybe make friends and collaborate on some personal projects (I enjoy working with people much more than on my own) and just generally be more involved in my local community. Maybe organize some kind of tech meetup (currently, meetups.com shows none in my area, although perhaps there's some that are not advertised there).

How should I go about doing this? Any tips for figuring out who would have common interests before I reach out, or is it just a matter of trying everyone and seeing who bites? If anyone has been in a similar situation: What worked for you and what didn't?