“Family” is not the same for all people. There are different ways of being a family that is derived from cultural, economic and social factors. The three main types are: family as a “tribal” arrangement, with families living near or with each other, with lots of intergenerational interaction and support; “nuclear” family, where couples marry and move away from or distance themselves from their family of origin and strive for self-sufficiency; “communal” family, where friendships take the place of the support network that a functional family structure traditionally provides.
Post-WWII socioeconomic factors and increased mobility due to employment factors saw a growth in the nuclear family structure; a significant portion of the American population lives in different cities than their family of origin. While the first generation to move away from the tribal family model retains that sense of family and often imparts some of the values to their children, for each subsequent generation, the bonds weaken, and the tendency is to live apart or away from your families. In doing so, families become “chosen” by creating close bonds with friends to replace that connectivity traditionally thought of as family.
A support network, especially when raising children, or aging, makes life so much easier, and eases the sense of isolation.