I am a huge fan of playgroups, the trick is finding one with other parents you can relate to.
I joined a playgroup when Sean was a baby, and now, nearly 10 years down the track the friends I made there are my best friends.
We have seen each other through the births of our second and in some cases third babies, helped each other through rough times (divorce, cancer treatments etc) and we've had some wonderful times, trips away together, celebrated important milestones together, and shared the joys of watching out children grow up together.