I was surprised at that too, but I see you're misinforming people on that score... There is a natural vegan source of vitamin B12. Go to your organic garden and pull out a carrot, rinse it off, and eat it. You just got B12. It's in the soil, bits of which are trapped in the grooves of the carrot. You don't need a lot of B12, and in a natural environment that's how vegans would get it.

We don't live in a very natural environment. Even if the soil is healthy, most vegetables are now heavily washed and peeled so vegans aren't likely to get sufficient B12 from soil clinging in the grooves of vegetables. So in the modern world of food production and consumption, a multivitamin is recommended.

I meant easy in the sense of getting sufficient nutrition from readily available foods, and also in the sense of preparing your favorite recipes without meat (often it's the sauces and spices that give them the flavors you know).

Socially, it can be very challenging, largely depending on the company you keep. As for family and dinner invites, I find people are very helpful and willing to accommodate. It is also less rare than it used to be - even most restaurants now have a few items that are vegan, or can be ordered vegan (without cheese, etc).

Oh well. That's part of the path, given the culture we live in. It requires a bit of determination, but once people figure out that you won't budge they usually give up trying to convert you back. Then they will just make constant jokes about eating three animals for every one you don't eat, etc. You disagreed with my "threatened" comment, yet that is exactly why you find it hard socially - they make it hard because they feel threatened by it.

Ordering a pizza with friends, I don't want to be the person to insist on a veggie option.

It sounds like conformity is high on your list. I don't really relate to that in the area of diet, but I see how it could make it difficult. I don't let anyone else decide my diet, and if they are not friendly to my choices, I find new friends. In general, I view such conflicts as a chance to demonstrate a healthy diet for people and answer their questions. A living example.

Vegan and proud of it.

Vegetarians and vegans usually far outperform meat-eaters on endurance tests... muscles recover faster and other effects. As for other health benefits, there are many.

Your energy boost from eating meat probably is due to an addiction. When animals are slaughtered they are terrified and their systems are flooded with adrenaline. When you eat the meat, you get this adrenaline. When people stop eating meat and get the shakes or feel they 'need' it, it is not due to protein or carbs (protein doesn't provide energy and carbs are in vegetables and fruits), it is because they 'need' their adrenaline fix, just like a drug addict.

I usually advise new vegans to eat a piece of fruit when they get the meat craving. It goes away after awhile as your body adjusts. This is true of any change of diet or giving up any drug - you need to allow time for your body to adjust. And everyone is different - for example I had no issues giving up meat, and only a little stomach acidity giving up dairy, which went away after a few weeks. And the benefits were considerable - dairy proved to be the source of a lot of lifelong health issues, and life is a LOT easier without it. When I (rarely) get a cold now there are hardly any symptoms - just a dull headache for a day.

In general your body gets energy from carbs, such as fruit. It also helps to eat vegetables rich in the B vitamins - this gives an energy boost.