I don't see it as running away. I just don't find meaningful connection in casual hangouts. I've been there, it was fun for awhile. Drinking, night life, etc. I prefer to work on projects with friends because those things take time and are a lot more fulfilling and 'inclusive'. I've learned a lot more and grown a lot closer to people by working on things together.

You grow to respect one another more over time when you share a foundation in things you are both equally passionate about. The amount I've learned from friends and also taught has made for very fulfilling life-long friendships.

The longer I've worked on things and gotten more into niche subjects the more difficult it is to casually relate to people, I've found that a lot of my 'friends' were just acquaintances. Knew them for years, but they didn't really know me and I didn't really know them.

If I do feel a need to unwind and casually hangout I prefer doing things like skiing, rock climbing, hiking, etc and keeping acquaintances in those circles. The reality is that if there's no shared foundation words become weightless.