The thing you have to keep in mind about Calico Girlfriend (as far as being about a fresh start with a new band) is that it does indeed date back to the Monkee era. There's a version of it (called Calico Girlfriend Samba, my favorite version of the song, in fact) on The Monkees Present as a bonus track. And Propinquity also dates back to the Monkees era, as it appears on Missing Links 3.

Sometimes I listen to Bye Bye Bye and how 'well that all happened back in 1961' (or is it '63? Can't recall and my copy of the song is a thousand miles away (literally, I'm visitin' relatives) and wonder if it's wishful thinking--"If I had run away to Mexico, the whole Monkees trip would never have gone down for me" though I don't know if his regrets are that strong. And heck--We can't assume that every song Mike has written is about life experience or time with Phyllis. Nez generally says the only song that's really autobiographical is Thanx For the Ride. (I said this earlier, but I did post some examples of the drawing I occasionally draw that's based on/inspired by the first two lines of that song @ gcfmonkees.tripod.com/art.html )
In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing. --Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest