Have you checked out https://tilde.net - I’m not connected to it (not even a registered user) but it looks solid.
edit: presumably, https://tildes.net/ with an s
Worked great for Google+!
At first glance it looks like a nice place. Most other alternatives seem to turn into a right-wing hell-hole quite fast. So I understand the need to let new people slowly trickle in.
Can drop it to vildravn@gmail.com, don't think HN has DMs.