I used to bond with a few guys at my local HE store but it closed 10 years ago and the guys that I met moved to sunnier climates. I live in Chicago land and there still are some boutique places but they are at least 45 minutes away and have limited hours.
It’s a lonely hobby as others noted.
Perhaps that could be a new forum category-find local audiophiles in your area-but unfortunately I see a lot of potential for scammers and worse in that scenario