+1 on the new bike, if you're planning to keep it for that long.

As for groups, can you find a recreational club in your area that's not full of the racer dudes. The club I belong to has all different levels of riding, from ambling along to 100 mile hammerfests. So I do 40-50 miles or so with people, but a slowish pace. Or look at Meetup, which may also offer something like that. I rode last week on a stay-together 60km ride at an average speed of around 20km/h. It was lovely.