I've lived here for 5, and maybe its just that most of my friends live fairly close to me, and that I used to live in Devon when I was growing up (where trying to meet friends without parental support was nigh-on impossible - no buses, couldn't drive, everyone lives miles away from each other), but I've not really encountered those problems at all.

Granted I tend to meet people centrally after work, since its convenient for everyone, but its not been too bad.