I think it can be very hard finding a good fit for a friend. I would join a larger group of some sort; as you see, you did find someone at work, too bad she left. I would take a class, volunteer, or join a social/hobby-type group that also is about an interest of yours. I made a lifelong friend volunteering with my library group, for example. When whatever one is part of ends, like work or a group, it is often hard to keep those friends because people or ourselves do move, etc. I have a friend like your work one and we have been saying, "definitely soon" for a long time but I still have not made that happen, gotten over to see her, etc.

I do not have any problem with "desperately" wanting to find friends but use that to judge how much I really want to work to be friends with that person? I really want to see the friend above, and know her well enough to know she will respond if we make a date and meet halfway, etc. But if someone does not contact me I think about how much I really want to get together with them? Like with this friend I know I do want to get together with (this Spring for sure, I'm going on vacation the whole month of February :-) if I really really wanted this, I would have made it happen sooner? Sometimes it's easy to decide the other person does not want to see us and feel alone/lonely but it is really about what we want. I can make a meeting happen if I want and I want. If a person does not set a date with you, won't "show up" that is different but we cannot really expect a person to work hard wanting to get to us as we do wanting to get to them when it is us wanting to get to them.