Thank you everyone for the encouragement!
It's nice to know that I'm not the ONLY single girl left out there! Sometimes it feels like I am. I "lost" all of my friends to marriage, boyfriends, babies, etc so I feel a little left behind.
I'm definitely trying some social and special interest groups, and I'm doing some volunteering starting in May. I'm hoping that it opens up my world to some new friendships (not just men, but new female friends too). I tend to be shy and I always feel like I'm being judged, so I tend not to talk to people, even if we're participating in the same activity!! I know I need to open up a little and also get over the fear of trying something new without a friend there as a crutch. That's the only way to make new friends!
On a side note, I went to Chicago last week and I don't know if I felt like it was "ok" because I was traveling for work, but I was totally fine going to the lounge and restaurants by myself and talking to random people. I was confident, charming and funny. I would NEVER do that in NYC! I felt like Chicago was a friendlier city, but maybe if I opened up here like I did there I'd find that people aren't so bad.
I'm finding that I can identify some things I need to work on to let more people into my life, but it's hard for me to actually do anything about it. Plus, I feel like any time I've given it a try people just let me down (especially men). Like I said previously, I don't feel like their values are the same as mine (I'm so ridiculously traditional).
Obviously I'll have to loosen up the age limit thing but I feel like the best years of my life are being wasted alone in my apartment!
Again, thank you all for the great advice, encouragement, and kind words. It's nice to know I can always come here for support. Even when it's over something silly!