My Four Favorite Gifts to Help You Feel Closer to Someone Far Away
I was 18 when I moved halfway across the country and settled in New York, creating an entire time zone between myself and my parents. That year for Christmas I gave them a little book with a voice recorder and programmed my voice into it. It was pretty basic, but since then I’ve gotten much better at choosing gifts that will help me stay connected with my family.
I’ve given my mom a few Amazon Echos, Apple Watches and even a MacBook so we can communicate digitally no matter where she is or what she’s doing, for example, but that’s expensive and not particularly sentimental. If you’re away from the person you love often throughout the year, you have thoughtful gift options to help you stay connected without breaking the bank.
Communicate with connected home decor
I want to focus on tech gifts here because you don’t need me to tell you that Etsy is full of other arts and crafts type things like custom keychains or wall hangings with maps of where you both live. Things like this are sentimental and subjective, but some of the more futuristic gifts on the market are lesser known—and in my opinion, they’re a really cool twist on the average long-distance road trip.
For example, check out the FriendLi lamp . This is a set of two (or more) lamps that glow in over 250 different colors. You leave one and the other with the person, so you can change the color of their lamp from your phone to let them know you’re thinking about them, say goodnight, help them get up in the morning, or whatever. You can create your own special signal language using colors without speaking a word. Two lamps cost $49, and a monthly subscription to the FriendLi service costs $2.99.
To send more personalized messages, consider Lovebox Spinning Heart Messenger ($100-$165). It’s a small wooden box with a rotating heart on the outside. You write a message on an app on your phone, causing your heart to race. When the recipient opens the box, they read your special note. For $100 you get a simple black and white screen, and for $169 you can add color and photos.
Paired jewelry works too
However, the lamp and box only work when your date is at home, so if you need something that will keep you close even when everyone is on the go, I recommend sensory jewelry. There are many sensor bands on the market that vary in price but not in features, so you have some wiggle room if you don’t want to spend too much. For example, they are $63.99. When you touch yours, the other one—wherever it is in the world—lights up, letting the other person know you’re thinking about them.
The Bond Touch bands are a little more expensive at $117.30, but they are sleeker and more professional. They are waterproof, durable and can last four days on a single charge. When you touch yours, your loved one will not only see the flashing lights, but also feel the vibration.