I joined a local club and found that the common thread was the club repeater.
As far as I could see there were no members involved with 'tinkering' or troubleshooting. I don't believe I'd find someone to chat with about whatever 'our' recent project would be, so different from my novice days in the 60's with the same club where that group was interested in how the newbees were progressing, etc. After two years, I didn't renew my membership.
I realize that times have changed, but I miss the one-on-one relationship that existed back then in ham radio, possibly because of the newness of it all and the mystic of hamming, building, experimenting and repairing. (Traits that are seemingly lacking today. How sad.)
Charlie