[mwfunk]

This is a well known phenomenon :) The best way to get closer to family is to move away, absence makes the heart grow fonder. If you want to have positive and constructive and long-lasting relationships with your family, move away from them, even if it's just an hour (whether that means an hour drive or a different time zone depends on the family).

[Fnoord]

Depends.

We don't have a network for our (young) children. Because their aunt and grandmother live 1+ hour drive away. Things like that severely limit your freedom. If you can park the children at grandma's easily, or have grandma visit easily, it allows you to even get things done for which otherwise one would need to stay at home, or you'd have to take all children to the appt.

Luckily, we got really nice neighbors, but we try to not play that joker card until inevitable. Its not something to rely on on the long term. Family is reliable.

If you live near each other, you just need to make proper appointments. Something with scope & boundaries...

[watwut]

Yeah. But it is not real relationship with them. You are not getting to know them nor getting to understand them.

It is just feeling good about people who don't show their strugglers and their real themselves to you.

Speaking from experience here.