The problem with trying to be friends with women is briffault's law. It doesn't just apply to sex and relationships. It's why you can't be long term friends with females. Just like in a romantic relationship, they will one day out of nowhere decide they don't care about you anymore and then will drop the friendship or ghost you like it never even happened regardless of how many years you've know them.

Remember, even if you're not a sexual relationship you are being used for something - whether it's emotional support or whatever. Once that's over then so is your association with them. Don't expect to have female friends for decades like you can with some of your good lifelong male buddies, especially since women value novelty more than longevity.