Welcome Starsabove,
I was 44 when I got sober. Yes you can start over anytime you want as long as you're on the right side of the grass. When I first got sober I pondered the same about my friends. I am a big procrastinator which helped me in this situation because as I gained sobriety my friends (ie drinking buddies) slow faded away. I worked on my issues and the friends around me slowly changed as I was changing. I didn't have to make any tough decision or have any dramatic conversation. I took my responsibility of doing what I had to do to be my best and things just worked out.
Healthy happy people gravitate to healthy happy people. Miserable drunks gravitate to.... well you know. Good luck and congrats on 11 weeks!