Good discussion! I'm very strongly introverted ... i do like people in small doses but have a huge capacity for solitude. Luckily my work involves long periods of working quietly by myself, intensely focused on mental puzzles. And my husband likes a quiet household too.
That said, i do like having close friends and talking, connecting, hanging out. I have a few friends but not that many female friends -- like you billie jean i have some good male friends but wish i had another girlfriend or two. I'm often torn between the desire to cultivate friendships and honoring my alone time/down time. I feel like something else needs to give .. maybe work less
Also husband and i take off on long travel trips which is great, but tends to disrupt friendships somewhat.
This was all true before sobriety too ...but at least now I'm wasting zero time buying wine, drinking it, and wallowing in melancholy!