Since the mid 1990's I've had no family (my brothers and sisters) living anywhere near me as they've been spread all over the world which makes getting together quite difficult and visits are few and far between. It was nice to have some of them here and we had a great time with good memories to take away from it. I look forward to the next.
I moved to Texas for 6 years, midlife adventure. It was pretty weird not being around any of my family. I flew home every Christmas for about 10 days and flew back twice for family weddings. The holidays were weird, but I have to say the folks I worked with were so friendly and multiples would invite me to celebrate the other holidays with their families, so I was never sitting lonely. It wasn't the same of course. I found I could survive away from them and I LOVED the adventure. My family was the only thing I missed, but I couldn't imagine living extremely far away forever now.
Plenty of people do it I know and if I was younger I might go on another temporary, extended life adventure, but we are getting too old to be apart now I think.
I know people who don't mind it so much but I really miss my niece and nephew and video chats just aren't the same. I'd really love for them to come here to stay but it's not going to happen so I take what I can get. When I exit the workforce I'll be able to travel a lot more and for extended periods so it'll not be soo bad I think. For now, I guess I just have to deal with it.
Family moving around is always going to happen I guess like you did, people have to live their lives as they choose.