I totally know you you feel Chatty, having dreamed of a Utopian world where all my distant friends and relatives would live close to me (or at least in the same state). I've mourned this for as long as I can remember.... Just this year, tired of the situation, I got a camera and have been on Skype. Have you tried that? I don't try to delude myself into thinking it's the real thing, but engaging live with friends and family, seeing spontaneous facial expressions, and their quirky behaviors has made me feel closer. The downside is that you can only use it with people who have the camera set-up, but this live video feed can be done via google, Yahoo and other websites too. It doesn't mend the heart, but manages to fill part of that void...