It's hard if you are just going to work and back home; you do have to get out there, have an interest that attracts others with that interest. What do you envision in a friend? Why would you choose them? If you like music, say, you have to go to where there is music to meet others who like music! If you like to read, go to events at the library, join their Friends of the Library group and meet other people interested in books or go to a reading at Barnes & Noble by a particular artist, join a reading group (often at your library), etc. You have to get around people you want to be around (which, presumably is more than just you and the people you work with?). Is there anything you like to do and anyone at work you could ask to try it with you? I was afraid to go to community classes alone and really wanted to go to a cooking class so made a friend go with me :-) Find a coworker that seems shy or in your similar shoes and suggest doing something you like to do in exchange for helping them go do something they like to do?