<human>: Provide a brief overview of the text.

Hey everyone.

So here's the skinny... I'm 24, working and living in a city, and financially independent from my parents. My primary group of friends is the people I grew up with. Most of them stayed somewhat close for college while I went far away. So, they tend to have a lot more friends in the city we all live in and I have virtually none. Also important to note is that we all started drinking and partying pretty early in life and most of us continued it through college, to now.

I am grateful to have these friendships but I feel like I am hitting a difficult point with them and life in general. I feel "over" the drinking and partying and have very little interest in doing it anymore, but it seems like that's my primary tie to my friends. I would really prefer to have friends who enjoy my interests but I feel stuck because I'm very shy and more often prefer to stay in than go out.

Additionally, all of my girlfriends either have boyfriends or are really obsessed with getting one. I am single and would like to find someone but it's not my focus. I work in a competitive field and have had a lot of success at my company, so continuing that and possibly returning to school for an advanced degree is my primary focus right now. Most of my girl friends do not understand or relate to this, so that's also been a challenge. 

Has anyone else been in this position and figured out how to move forwards confidently towards what you want? Or are any of you 5,10 or more years after this kind of a point and can offer some assurance this will work out?

well..
<bot>: because that wasn't so skinny..**Feeling like I have different wants and goals from my friends, seeking advice for how to act on them**