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I was 18 when I moved halfway across the country to live in New York, putting a whole timezone between myself and my parents. For Christmas that year, I got them a little book that came with an audio recorder and programmed my voice into it. It was pretty rudimentary, but I’ve gotten much better at picking gifts that can help me stay connected to my family in the years since.
I’ve gotten my mom multiple Amazon Echos, an Apple Watch, and even a MacBook so we can communicate digitally no matter where she is or what she’s doing, for instance, but those are expensive and not particularly sentimental. If you’re far from someone you love frequently throughout the year, you have options for thoughtful gifts that can keep you connected without breaking the bank.
Communicate with connected home decor
I want to focus on tech-y gifts here because you don’t need me to tell you that Etsy is full of more arts-and-crafts type things, like custom keychains or wall hangings featuring maps of where both of you live. Items like that are sentimental and subjective, but some of the more futuristic gifts on the market are less well-known—and, in my opinion, a really cool twist on the usual long-distance fare.
For instance, check out the FriendLi lamp. It’s a set of two (or more) lamps that glow in over 250 custom colors. You keep one and the person has the other, so you can change the color of their lamp from your phone to let them know you’re thinking of them, to say goodnight, to help them get up in the morning, or whatever else. You can create your own special signal language with the colors, all without saying a word. Two lamps are $49 and a monthly subscription to the FriendLi service is $2.99.
To send more personalized messages, consider the Lovebox Spinning Heart Messenger ($100-$165). It’s a little wooden box with a heart-shaped spinner on the outside. You write a message in the app on your phone, which causes the heart to spin. When your recipient opens the box, they read your special note. For $100, you get a plain one that features a black-and-white screen, and for $169, you can add color and photos.
Paired jewelry works, too
The lamp and the box only work when your long-distance person is home, though, so if you want something that keeps you close even when everyone is on the go, I recommend touch jewelry. There are a ton of touch bracelets on the market ranging in price, but not really in function, so you have some wiggle room if you don’t want to spend too much. These, for instance, are $63.99. When you touch yours, the other one—wherever it is out there in the world—will light up, letting the other person know you’re thinking of them.
The Bond Touch bands are a little pricier at $117.30, but are sleeker and more professional, too. They’re waterproof, durable, and able to go for four days on a single charge. When you touch yours, your loved one will not only see the flashing lights, but feel a vibration.
