I've mentioned before about the unfriendly, clique we have in my town, so I drive 67km to a friendly group which meets in the studio of one of the members. I look forward to it every time. One of my friends belongs to a group that rotates meetings in each of the members houses, but that could be trying at times. My photography group meets upstairs in a club house (sort of like a casino, I guess). The only fee was that we had to become members of the club - perhaps you could find a similar venue?