You'll find after you live here a while that lots of farangs come and live here for a while - then move on. Thais have probably seen enough people come and go, to prefer not make an effort to know someone until they have been around a while. They are probably also a bit chary of strangers ( as I am) until they see and know that you have fairly stable and reasonable behavior - [many farang expats don't).

All the usual places to meet people still apply here: Hash House Harriers, local Lions or Rotary Clubs, Soi Dog Foundation volunteers (assuming they have a branch up there), local bilingual churches and on and on and on. Volunteer, get involved in your community - walk around your neighborhood instead of driving, etc.

When I worked in Saudi Arabia, our boss had seen so many people come and go that the other teachers said that he wouldn't even bother to talk to you until you had been there two years. Sure enough, first day of my third year, he came into my office and initiated a very nice and friendly conversation. Same idea applies here.