>>510248439 (OP)Find a nice local dive bar. Wherever all the trades go for lunch and a drink. If you're gonna be an alcoholic, might as well sip $4 well drinks. Say hi to the guys. You start seeing the same crew in the bar the more you go. Ask em what they do. You'll make a LOT of connections for the price of buying a guy a drink.
Off the top of my head, I've got
> 2 welders/custom fab guys>3 mechanics>1 guy who owns a wrecking yard>1 boat mechanic>tractor/heavy equipment salesman (gives me discounts) >1 circuitry/tech wizard>1 guy who may or may not have been in the mobAnd I consider these dudes my friends. A lot of us hang out regularly outside the bar. Just go hang. If you're gonna be a drunk-ass, at least go meet the people