Home Studies - virtual family

When I transitioned to an empty nest, the role of family in defining home became increasingly salient to me. With our children’s departure our routines began shifting. The rhythms and pace of daily life changed, and the house became uncharacteristically quiet. Now, instead of sharing a physical place, my children and I primarily see one another online. Our live interactions take place in the two-dimensional spaces presented by our various devices’ screens. Conflicting time zones, schedules, and routines complicate our efforts to stay in touch. Our moods and our ISPs affect the clarity and duration of our communications. There are no more chance kitchen encounters. With time, online family life seems to offer a new normal—not like being together in a real physical place, but connected, nevertheless. If being together with family is central to how we define home, can virtual space offer an alternative place to dwell?