launching is a developmental stage of life and in western culture it usually coincides with moving to college. it's not the college thing, it's the age/developmental stage most folks are at when they are ready for college.
if you really do have asperger's socializing might be difficult for you since that's a very mild form of autism. but i've met aspie's who can socialize and they do it without major problems. often the key is finding a group that focuses on something you, personally, are interested in (hobby, a cause, etc.) and you will know you have at least that in common.
in the first post you said something about feeling fake when you socialize, i think most of us have gone through that whether we're depressed/anxious or not. if it happens with your old friends, i say there is a very good chance that you really are itching to chart a new, more independent life for yourself, so at one level you have an urge to sever ties with those folks from your old life (would include those old friends). and then there's another level that clashes with this urge to get into a new path. do you have to put up a front? why can't you just be yourself? not everyone expects people to be bright, cheerful, perky all the time. there's quite a few people out there who enjoy being around someone who is authentic, true to themselves.
i think i agree with The Big D though... it seems like you aren't quite ready to go be on your own in the adult world... well, you are ready but you aren't sure, so you are giving many rational reasons why that's not true. and that's fine. i'm just wondering, if that is your initial reaction to the whole launching thing, what is your reaction after you ponder it for a while? and what do your emotions say to the idea of living on your own (meaning what feelings come up to the idea of living on your own)?
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