Am I strange for wanting these things?

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I am almost 30 (still two years to go) and I have very few friends and no girlfriend. I feel just as intimidated of the social world as I was in my developmental years and trying to break out of the rut has been very sisyphean. It's getting to where my mind is telling me it's strange that I still want to make new friends and to find a girlfriend. Is it strange that I still want these things or is it just the depression making me feel this way?

It's not strange to want friends and a girlfriend -- no matter how old you are, no matter how difficult it is for you to find these things.

Having a circle of friends and a life partner are basic requirements for a mentally healthy life.

It would sooner be strange if you *didn't* want either of those things.

It's better to want the finer things in life, than to preclude yourself from every acquiring those "finer" things.

Thanks for the replies. Now that I think about it, my family constantly complains about their own relationships and the negative energy tries to rub off on me.

Friends- probably, we are, after all, social animals.
Partner- not absolutely necessary.

I mean, telling ourselves that we NEED a partner to be healthy is putting a strange pressure on ourselves. I don't feel I would want one- is that the first sign that I'm mentally unwell?

Not strange at all, although I am NT..

I feel the need can change on a regular basis though in essence we are social creatures.

It's all about balance. There are days when I seek the company of others are other times I prefer solitude and would much rather listen to music or go hiking than to socialise.

Mind you, I am an introvert and use all my emotional energy at work.

Don't worry! It only means you're human! Humans are social beings, even though people on the spectrum have trouble in that area of life. I tend to have a lot of pals, but no close friends. I always suffered in that area (especially growing up). I only have two real friends now (my roomie and my boyfriend).

Everyone wants to be loved. That's what makes us human. ASD are a serious challenge, but they don't mean you need to live like a hermit for your entire life. I have a few friends (including a couple of really good ones) and I've been married for five years to someone who loves me very much. You can have the kind of personal connections that you crave. It'll take a lot of work -- and make you suffer a lot of heartache in the process -- but it can happen if you really want it. You just need to know that you deserve to be loved just like anybody else.