the kindness of strangers

I wish it were easier to make new friends. When you're a kid, there are other kids everywhere--down the street, at school, at summer camp. Now, even when I see other people our age, it's hard to walk the fine line between privacy and friendliness. I used to think it was a Minnesota thing (the cold politeness) that no one really got to know their neighbors. Am I wrong? Does anyone know their neighbors well?