Thank you very much indeed for your reply Starkid.
I think you make a good point when you say that it is good to want less social interaction since, the inverse - wanting more social contact and not being able to get it - would be so hard to live with....the grass is often greener?
I agree completely that the 'social games that people play' are awful and exhausting and so confusing. I try to actively discourage new social connections for the reasons you outlined. People have to be very important individuals to me if I am going to be willing to put up with all the trouble they bring with them into my life.
I definitely want the minimum amount of social contact that I can get away with in my life...my problem is that my family, my few friends and the people I work with always want more time and energy from me. I do my best to meet their needs and be generous with them when I can, but I get really exhausted and burnt out. I am hoping to find ways to make forcing myself to socialize with the people i already have responsibilities to easier and more productive.
Thank you again for your reply