You so hit it on the nose. Strong direct women can be seen as aggressive and unnatural!!! So I too have minimal 'girl' friends and have always had a lot of guy friends. My bestfriend has always been my husband. But the 'girl' friends that I do have are close friends that have been in my life for years and will be in my life forever. Now that I have my child and having to interact with the 'moms' I am sure I will be on the outside because I don't fit the mold and I don't do well with the fluff talk. I am always that intense one. So time will tell.