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Originally Posted by Lost Dog
My CK experience was before IMs were a decent solution. The miracle of the internet (IMs, Skype, etc) allows us to form networks with people around the world with no long distance charges.
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This is exactly how my support network is feasible. My best friend just moved to Las Vegas. We used to meet at a bar and go to town on our problems. Sure, we could (and would) call each other as needed, and we still do, but that face-to-face connection is no longer feasible. It doesn't matter the topic of discussion--if there's a need for someone, we fill that need (as needed).
The key to our friendship and mutual support is something like this: just be ready with a shoulder and a beer. We bitch and moan to each other, offer opinions, but never dictate. We've both done stuff the other was adamantly against (and we said so), but we never said "you should..."
My network (about a half-dozen people) is a collection of people with varied backgrounds and lifestyles, ranging from single early-20s (female) to married-with-children late-20s (female) to single early-30s (male) and so on, but only two live nearby; the rest are scattered literally across the country. All get a Cliff's Notes version of everything, but I go to certain ones depending on my particular situation at the time. I know that all of them will give me a blunt, honest opinion rather than sugar-coat anything (the reason I wouldn't to go family even if I got along with them).