I thought about a party, we've got a great house/garden for it but the idea of the guest list just depressed me so much I've planned a 'just me' thing.
Like LionInTheSun I've had this a few times now (looks over shoulder, bit paronoid).
As an incomer you approach with a sunny, open, let's see if we've got anything in common attitude. Initially they love you, want to come round, meet up, get the kids together.
I think we'll it's not perfect but friendships take time, you look at the positives rather then ticking off a list of must have qualities. But before you know it the shutters come down; turns out that group were just on a bit of a fact finding mission gathered the info, worked out the pecking order - more/less qualified, house value, kids reading band - yes absolutely on that one.
Moving to a different area, children, job in new field - total eye opener for me. I miss the casual, meet up with a friend, they've brought a new person along, the circles grow and change and the conversation is general since 'gossip' would be meaningless.
I attempted to start a general "once a week, same day, same place, if you feel like it, meet here for cake, tell who you want, bring whoever"
Within three weeks it had fallen flat on it's face.
'I can't come this week then so can we need to change it'
'I did n't know she'd be there'
'What if someone else finds out?'
But the biggest thing was that by throwing the odd random person in, it stopped all the local gossip/intimate confessions because of the stranger listening, which after reality tv talk left a big gaping hole in the conversation.