A bit of an odd title, and partly inspired by a number of other threads about adult sibling relationships and my own situation.
I moved to another part of the country over 20 years ago, about 3.5 to 4 hour drive away. The only family I still have in the town I grew up in is my brother, who has his own family. We get on alright and, although we aren't really close, I do care about him and his kids.
When our elderly relative in our home town was alive, I would be asked "when are you coming to visit, they want to see you?". I have been invited to drop in to see DB while I've been in the area visiting the relative, and we have had some lovely days together, but just as often have been told "you can't expect me to drop everything just because you say you are coming".
Now that our relative has passed on, I have no real reason to visit the town, unless I was to be invited. I have told DB that he is welcome to visit us any time (we have space for him to stay and we live in a nice area), but he says he couldn't travel this far (although he did come up to this area earlier in the year for a romantic weekend away...) He hasn't made any effort to invite me. I am sad that our relationship seems to have dwindled, and about the impact on the relationships with and between all our kids.
How do you arrange to see your siblings (or cousins, or other relatives) when you are in different areas and don't have a hub such as a parent to coordinate the visit? I can't help thinking that it shouldn't be this hard...