Here’s a good article about digital living, in this case, a person whos life is completely integrated with his Macs and the digital hub they create.

The final sentence wraps it up well:
“I don’t know how many of you leave your ‘chat’ application up 24/7, but for me when I see my friends ‘green’ light on my iChat buddy list I almost feel as though they were right here, and available should any of us have something to share.

Does this make me isolated? Hardly.”

While I certainly see bad points about Internet based text communication(eg, lack of body gestures and voice tones), something I like about it most is it is not so obtrusive. One can still get on with what you want to do but still communicate with people, even multiple people all at the same time be it email, IRC or IM.

Internet based communication does not, for me anyway, make me feel so distanced from other people even if we are other side of the world. BUT I am less likely to pick up the phone and call someone, even if they are not online.

I think this is why I have never felt home sick since I left home and even moved state.