I joined Sl in 2007. At first I wondered around, didn't really have conversations, mostly shopped. I met a then nice lady in a shop who was a club owner. She said she liked my avatar and basically insisted I have the job. Should of been happy, right? I worked in her club for about 3 months before I figured out she wasn't the person I thought she was, etc. By that time, i had gained enough experience running a club. I bought a cookie cutter club building and began my own club. Over the year plus I had my club, I gained "friends". When I took a break for RL, I came back to a much shorter friends list. The ones who remained consisted of people who no longer logged in or actually were true and good friends. Those friends have since moved over to facebook, phone conversations and less dependant on SL time, as time to build and keep those friendships.
I've since went on to building, creating and having a little store, which I enjoy. I don't miss all the IM's. I don't miss all the drama. I like my seemingly small circle of friends. I know they are good people. They don't need to be in my IM's all the time. We know each other is there, if the need for conversation or help arrises.
Like Rl, Sl is always changing. As much as some don't want to mix RL and SL or scream that Sl is or is not a game. There are similarities. Make your Sl life what you want it to be. If you're happy with a busy and active social life, that's wonderful. If you're happy with something a little more quiet with alone time, that's wonderful. There's so much to see and enjoy in SL. It's always changing, just like life.