Stepping Back and Redefining, Part I

The last few days have been one fast emotional roller coaster, and now I feel like the seat belt on the roller coaster is jammed and the roller coaster isn't moving. I feel stuck. You see, last night I made the decision that I needed to step back a bit from some dear friendships, in order to save those relationships in the long run. However, I have this deep social need - not being social, especially in the summer just about kills me. So, now, I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself - and I feel stuck - stuck in the middle, and alone.

I'm currently faced with several choices, none of which are particularly appealing.
1) Spend lots more time with a close circle of girls whom I love, but, however jokingly, seem to be a little anti-boy. Don't get me wrong, I am boy-less right now, but I am trying not to let that turn me into a bitter person, and I'm still trying to find good things in the gentlemen around me. Unfortunately, at least for me, even the most insincere boy-bashing jokes make that goal a lot harder to achieve.
2) Spend more time with a group of people I haven't really spent time with in months, and with whom I feel like I have very little in common with anymore, except with a few select members of the group.
3) Go out and meet new people. Now this one I'm a little more partial to, but, I'm a chicken. I'm all for meeting new people, but, I like to have a companion or two to do that with - which makes me miss a particular friend quite especially right now.
4) Do nothing, ignore my need for daily social interaction, and completely immerse myself in my work. Well, I could do that, but, if you ask me, it seems a little unhealthy, don't you think?

So, here I sit, blasting Josh Groban, and wanting to go on a canyon drive - too bad I have no gas. I just feel acutely alone and in the middle of a giant group of people that I recognize, but, find it hard to confide in people, even the ones that I know care about me. Maybe I'll go on a bike ride, and then I'll research one of my new and now very real goals - to go to Florence, Italy. I need something to work toward that doesn't feel like work. And I mean it, one day, I'm going to Florence.