Everyone Lives Too Far Away

Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to live a thousand years ago when people would be born and die in the same village. Families were close and took care of each other. I often think it's unfortunate that members of my family live where they do. It makes it difficult to know any of them very well.

My father and many of my siblings live in the same little town in Alberta as I do, but my mother, a brother, and a sister live in the states. Then there are the aunts and uncles all over the place.

My husband's family are scattered as well. He has three siblings here in Alberta, but they are all at least three hours away. He also has a brother in the states, and a sister in eastern Canada. We are grateful that at least his mother lives very close.

Then there are my kid's other grandparents and aunts and uncles, my ex-husband's family (who the kids rarely see).

I'm sure this is a problem many people face. We never fly anywhere because the cost of flying five people is just more than we can afford, so that leaves us with road trips. We enjoy traveling together and have all sorts of adventures, but with only so much time off and so much money, we don't get to see family very often. I actually have a brother-in-law and a niece that I've never met.

Sometimes I try to imagine what it would be like if we could all live closer together. Truthfully, I think we might drive each other a little crazy. In the meantime, I need to figure out how to organize a trip to a family wedding in May, a family reunion in August, and possibly a trip to see my mother and brother at Christmas time. Either that, or I need to convince them all to visit me.