I ended up a frequent binge drinker before I quit for good. I had friends who knew me both ways and weren’t chemically dependent. I ended up marrying the sister of one who knew not to introduce me to her until I had straightened up my act. The dynamics of friendships that survive the transition from chemically dependent to common teetotaler is certainly a complex topic, and one possibly worth talking about.
What about your old best friend that lived down the street? How is that friendship evolving? Have you told her that you will never drink again?