I've had a number of different jobs in vastly different and contrasting organizations and work cultures both in public and private sectors. Some organizations have been heavily dominated by men in terms of daily work interactions for me.

It's been a real interesting journey in meeting a very broad range of people from all walks of life, but have not acquired personal friendships from my jobs. Part of it is due to the personal preference that I don't spend time with work colleagues outside of the job nor do I go out for lunch hardly at all with anyone from work. I have tried, but things have naturally peetered out of mutual apathy by both myself and others over time.

It would be nice to have more closer female friends but it doesn't help when already I've moved to 2 different provinces in the past few years. I'm a socialable person with a smaller circle of long term friends (friendships over 25 yrs. long)..who unfortunately live in another province but have proven to be helpful ears during recent personal upheavals/life changing events.

I would less happy cultivating connection with a ton of superficial social networks where I would feel even MORE isolated. It only accentuates my disconnection with people I share very little common interest.

By the way, I see TE forums as a convenient place to chat up on specific stuff without worrying about how much advance knowledge I have on a particular topic.