Matt Lauer Has 'Drastically Changed His Social Circle' 6 Years After Today Firing: Sources (Exclusive)

Matt Lauer is still adjusting to life away from the spotlight after being ousted from the Today show six years ago.

A source exclusively tells PEOPLE the former morning show anchor, 65, has “drastically changed his social circle and iced out many old friends, even people who stuck by him after the Today show.”

The insider adds that Lauer is now living “a fairly good life” but “it's nothing at all like what it was” before he was fired from his anchor position. 

“It's a very quiet lifestyle, but he has nothing to complain about,” the source shares. “He is dating, he's close with his kids. He still held on to the huge horse farm he shared with [ex-wife] Annette [Roque] on Long Island and they manage it together. They've navigated that fairly well." 

Lauer sold his home in the Hamptons last year, a second and third source confirm to PEOPLE.

“He sold his house in the Hamptons because he wants to spend more time at his place in New Zealand,” the second source tells PEOPLE of Lauer’s farm property in New Zealand. “He feels peace there, loves it, loves the people, and it’s good for his productivity level."

Despite tightening his social circle and selling his property, the first insider adds that he is “still going strong” with girlfriend Shamin Abas, whom he began dating in 2019. 

A fourth source tells PEOPLE that the couple try to keep their relationship as private as possible, noting, “Matt still gets trash talked and he doesn’t want to give people any added options for it, so he and Shamin keep a very low profile.”

“They are still seriously dating and get along well. She has her own life away from him with her international PR and events firm, and her horse,” the source adds. “She has taken up competitive jumping and loves it. Her friends are impressed with her athletic ability.”

Abas “loves her life in the Hamptons, her horse and her new passion for jumping and competing,” according to the insider. 

Despite their solid relationship, the source says, “I don’t know if marriage is in the cards any time soon, but they have a good relationship.”

Sources share that the pair visited New Zealand together in 2020 and will probably make more visits to the country together but Abas — who plans to stay in the Hamptons over the holidays — is unlikely to move there permanently. 

“She has a full life in the U.S. and is busy with her clients, and her horse and other pets,” a fifth source says. “I would be surprised if she would ever leave any of this permanently. Visits to New Zealand are one thing, but a permanent move doesn’t make sense.”

Lauer also spends as much time as possible with his children — sons Thijs, 17, and Jack, 22 and daughter Romy, 20, a sixth source tells PEOPLE.

“Matt has a healthy and loving relationship with his kids and has been a good dad,” the insider shares.

Additionally, Lauer has friend Bryant Gumbel in his corner. The same source explains, “Matt loves Bryant and vice versa and their long time friendship has really helped Matt through all of the issues he has faced in the last few years.”

“Matt has some projects he is working on, and Bryant has been encouraging and inspirational for him,” the insider adds. “They talk regularly.” 

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Lauer was fired by NBC in November 2017 after a former network employee, later identified as Brooke Nevils, reported that he sexually harassed her. Several other women came forward with similar accusations shortly thereafter.

Nevils went public to Ronan Farrow for his 2019 book Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators. To Farrow, Nevils alleged that Lauer raped her in his hotel room at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where she was working for NBC's Meredith Vieira. Lauer has insisted all of his encounters were consensual.