[John Michael Kane]

I have several older, close female friends. They aren't of my generation, and there's no romantic interest there on either side. It works because they have cool stories, a maternal instinct for their kids/grandkids and have artistic or other talents that cross-sect with my interests. I'd encourage men not to have female friends and become a beta male orbiter around women their own age. If you like her, go after her and make it happen. But if you're just hanging around hoping one day she'll decide you're her Prince Charming, that's not going to happen. In short, you can have female friends, even close female friends, but it works best with women of different age generation between you.