Dealing with friendships

How do you deal with friendships?
It's really hard for me. Somehow I'm really bad at it. Sometimes I see people walking in gangs and I say to myself that I just don't want that. That kinda social jungle is not for me. I still want friendship, though! I could say that philosophically I have people who are my friends but I still feel lonely (often around other people).
How do you deal with this issue? What did and didn't work for you?

I have only a very small number of friends, and we only tend to meet up once a month or so, usually just in one on one settings as I do not like to be in a group of people. I couldn't handle large groups or having many friends, I prefer to be on my own. I do get lonely but I just prefer solitude to forced socialisation.

I have a fairly good relationship with a friend of mine who also has a similar disorder, but not without our fair share (or even more than fair share) of conflicts.

(you can tell by my username) and it hasn't stopped me from getting anywhere in life.

I have a few good friends. We usually get together 1:1 but from time to time the girls get together. Lately I've been both lonely and overwhelmed with life. I try to plan to get together with one person or even a group, but usually change my mind. If the plans are set I force myself to go through with it and enjoy it. Lately I've been waiting to invite people to do anything until the last minute so I won't have time to change my mind. I've been withdrawing from people too..I shouldn't though. Friends are good for me and I know it. It's just so hard when each day of life is such a struggle.

I have a few friends, both "in real life" and via Internet. We have small discussions about different topics but sometimes I take control and talk about some of my concerns - not much though; I tend to talk really fast when excited and that somehow makes me look like I'm rabid. It's difficult, but I try to socialize.

My one and only friend has a physical disability. We can really relate to each other, because society sees us as outsiders. He is very social and outgoing. I have learned a lot about socializing from him. He has even gave me a few lessons.

I don't require a lot of social interaction. Most of the people I converse with are acquaintances from the university. When I am done there I just want to go home and be by myself. Most of my time is spent alone which doesn't bother me. Sometimes I wish I had a partner though.

Meeting one person at a time makes socializing a lot easier.

If this is the definition of "real" friendships how many "real" friends do people really have?: “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
- Elbert Hubbard

but sadly the world just wants to complicate things...