Hello everybody!
My avatar name is Fenix Greycloak. I do have alts, but Fenix is my main avatar. I have been in SL for five years now.
I was first introduced to Second Life through a real-life freind who suggested I use SL as a venue for our RL group of freinds to hang out. Of course, that idea went nowhere, but I stayed in SL.
I spent the first year of my time in Second Life quietly exploring the grid. within 6 months I was a DJ on SL earning lindens of my own, going shopping, going out to clubs and dancing, etc. All the while my. RL wife kept asking me "you playing that stupid game again?" I introduced her to it and now she is more hooked on the "stupid game" then I am LOL.
I have found the best way to make friends in Second Life is to simply follow your interests. There are always communities to join, discussion groups to participate in, and clubs to visit to suit every possible taste in music. If you are friendly and outgoing, people will be (mostly) friendly to you in turn. I also run a SL Newbie school in world.