Ahh but the Age of Communication actually lets us spread out more and more. We no longer need to live within 20 miles of our family to feel the "bonds of family" because they are a mouse click or a speed dial away. So the modern age lets us maintain our emotional bonds over greater distances, but then next thing you know we turn around and we don't have any family support within several hundred miles.

Meanwhile, since we -can- stay in touch so easily with loved ones, we don't -feel- isolated outside of an emergency dituation/tragedy/high stress time. So we don't make that extra effort to get to know the people around us, as we already feel connected and in a community. The weaknesses of the system then make themselves known pretty fiercely when something -does- go wrong and we need that nearby, real support.