D.N.
For the exercise equipment you might want to try www.freecycle.org or www.craigslist.org.
You can find some amazing stuff on there.
Regarding hooking up with others:
you might want to get involved in your older son's PTA (Parent Teacher Association) at school, take your little one to free library offerings for kids, hang out at playgrounds, and in Lafayette there is the WOW (World of Wonders) for kids, also with extra programs.
Hope that can get you started.