If you can't find a pickin' partner, try creating one. Find someone who would like to learn, and either teach them or take lessons together or get them to take lessons. And talk to music teachers (like Rick) to get names of people around your ability level or preferably a little better who might be interested in picking together. Some teachers run group lessons, and there's an instant group you might pick with.

Check out the adult ed courses in your local school system or the recreation department for leads on acoustic music people and classes. Contra dances turn up lots of musicians.

Contact the closest folk music society for song circles and jams to join.

Network, network, network.

You get so much better so much faster when you play with other people, and it's so much MORE FUN.