Re: boy/girl judgement
I don't like to have many casual friends around me. I have many aquaintances but I don't consider them good friends. There are some people who are nice but deep down they don't have the qualities or trust, loyalty and sincerity. I think you have to be able to read people and know who to keep at a slight distance. Then there are other friends who stick with you even through tough times.
Criteria for my husband was first trust factor. Everything he said was candid, honest, to the point and humorous. He was very open and genuine. It mattered to me more what he thought than what a friend would think. I wondered more if he liked me more than what a friend thought of me. Our values, life goals, personalities, religion were all similar/compatible. For a friend, you accept their different values because it won't affect you as much as your spouses.