I recently got to spend some time in Bend, Oregon (which is beautiful, if you haven’t been).

One thing I was immediately struck by was the prevalence of independently-owned businesses. Just wandering downtown, there was a custom jeweler, a thrift store, a brewery, a children’s clothing store, a bookstore… And while the Bay Area also has a treasure trove of small businesses, the high price of real estate makes it pretty damn tough to cut it out here. But thinking through the downtown areas of different local cities, we also still have a diverse, thriving local business scene.

Why is it that we take the time to wander when we go someplace new, but not when we’re home? (Is this just me?)

Part of it, I’m sure, is the instant gratification of one-click shopping. You want something, you enter it in a search bar, add to cart, and it will arrive on your doorstep in a matter of days — and sometimes mere hours! And maybe this is me over-romanticizing a previous way of life, but I do think something is lost in this transaction. You don’t get to see how a fabric feels. You don’t get to ask the shopkeeper about their recommendations. You don’t get to chat with another customer about that new restaurant down the street. You don’t get to casually browse with a friend while you catch up on each other’s lives.

We’ve become increasingly isolated. We have the world at our fingertips, yet real face-to-face connection with people is irreplaceable. Anonymous reviews do not replace it. Social media does not replace it. TV does not replace it. And it affects our health.

Lots of small businesses have an online presence now, largely out of necessity. To drive awareness and drive sales, they often have to be online. But a part of the beauty of buying local is the opportunity to get to know your neighbors (customers and owners and employees alike).

When I first got my dog, I went to Bow Wow Meow in Menlo Park to get some staples like a dog bed, a new leash, treats, and toys. The woman in the store was so gracious and helpful. She talked gently to my nervous dog, made recommendations, and even suggested a local vet to connect with. And those are the kind of connections you don’t get when you go online.

As I turn my focus away from big box retailers, I’m really looking forward to finding other opportunities to not only find local treasures, but also get to know the economic backbone of the Bay Area.

Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

Maybe this is a good place to start.