The Advantages of Living Close to Your Extended Family

My husband and I recently moved back to the San Francisco Peninsula location. Prior to this move we lived for 3 years in the East Bay, around 58 miles away from my husband's family. The biggest reason for us moving back is so that we can be closer to my husband's family. Back then when we lived far away, we rarely see them. Even when we try to make it a point to visit every other week, it was not enough. Both my husband and I came from a closely knit family. But since my parents are both gone and my other siblings are far away in the Philippines, my husband's family is the only one I got here in America. Good thing though, we get along pretty well and we try to keep it that way.

Extended families do not only end at each spouse's immediate family and grandparents; it extends to the aunts, uncles, grand uncles, grand aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces.

There are many advantages of living close to your extended family. We have realized from the three years that we were away the importance of being around our extended family. I have listed some of them; I know some of you can relate:

1) It is easy to get an impromptu gathering together. We all live about a few minutes away from each other. Every Saturday we have dinner at my husband's parents place. In case we need to make changes, whether make it some other day or go eat out, it is easier when you live close by, because that means you can just go with them anywhere.

2) Feeling of security. It is easy to plan on a trip or be away on vacation. Having an extended family, you can plan on a getaway without worrying who will pick up your mails for you or check up on your house. We live close to my husband's younger brother and his family, we could be away and he would check our mail even take out the garbage for us.

3) It makes the family grow closer. It may be true that there is a saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it would also mean that absence makes you miss them more. Like when we were away, we could not deal with the long drive especially when we were already tired from our daily chores. The distance that separated us got in between us, especially the kids (my daughter and her cousins) for they could not go to places together. Now that we live closer, they can even spend the night together, like having their own slumber party. Living closer means you also do not miss out on any special events, like brithdays and other gatherings.

4) Peace of mind. Living closer means more peace of mind. Should we have an emergency, we can call them or they can call us if they need us.

5) Babysitting is no longer an issue. My husband always volunteer and help out his younger brother and sister in taking care of their kids when needed. They do the same for us, if for example we cannot take our daughter with us; we leave her with them for a couple of hours sometimes more.

6) No need to cook on some nights. This is one of my favorites; my mother-in-law loves to cook for her family, even on some of the nights that we are not scheduled to go to their place. She would cook and ask us to drop by and get our meals to go, already packed in lunch boxes. It saves us time to cook our next meal, not to mention saves us money.

7) Helpful advice is within easy reach when you have them close by. Even if we knew we could call them on the phone, there are some things that you cannot say over the phone. It is easier when you do it in person, it is more personal that way. Plus if you need a shoulder to cry on, they are always there.

8) Shopping buddies. It's fun to shop with family members; they can give you their honest opinion on something you want to buy.

9) Helping hand is readily available. This is an advantage we always like to take advantage of. Whenever we would need to move any heavy item around the house, we can just call the able bodied family members to help us out.

10) Ride sharing. One of the other advantages is ride sharing, in going to places and to work, it is always fun to carpool with the extended family members.

I am lucky to have my husband and his extended family living close by. We are quite a crowd when we are together. We fill each others home with happiness and fond memories for us to talk about and laugh about someday. There are ups and downs in our lives, but together we pull through as any family (extended or not) would.