The 'mandatory fun' drives me crazy as well, especially in a small company. I have made some very good friendships with coworkers, but we weren't bonding during company outings. In hindsight, I wish I had not been so resistant to those sorts of things -- it just made me look weird and not fit in.

I find it funny that I looked forward to going to my boyfriend's company Christmas party this year, but I used to moan endlessly about being forced to go to my own company's party!