To me, this is the key - someone has to take the initiative. Once you realize that everyone is in the same boat; being that person can be uncomfortable but incredibly rewarding. Invite everyone over. Someone has to do it, and everyone else will be grateful.
I live in a newish neighbourhood. There were about 8 households that moved in within the same 2 months. One couple decided to have a get-together and put flyers in mailboxes (in January in Canada). 10 years later, some of the people I met that night have become my best friends. The folks that took the initiative are long gone, but what they did for the neighbourhood with that one leaflet has had a real impact.
