Hi.
In spite of outer appearances, you and I are perhaps not so dissimilar.
I haven't had many pleasant experiences in terms of acquiring second life 'friends'. Most friend requests tend to be from people I've just met, who I later find out I have very little in common with.
It's my experience that people offer friendship in SL as a matter of course and a polite way to end conversation. To me, friendship is so much more than that. It's generally not spontaneous and it's not something that can be requested.
I guess I'm bit old-fashioned that way, but each to their own.
Good luck in your quest, anyway.