I'm only one person for the most part. It's 1 1/2 hr drive and it gives me something to do, be with people. We all live our lives pretty separately so the drama stays between the parties and not at the gatherings... well sort of. A way to crack on each other face to face in front of others. All good fun.
We gather at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and July 4th. A dozen or so of us. My brother is like the patriarch since mom and dad have been gone for decades. I get the best of the deal. Break up the party so he and I watch football and suck beers together one on one in his awesome man cave. It's good quality time since he's the kind of guy that doesn't share feelings or looks for advice. He's got the big house with 3 kids sent to college, retired but still working to kill time till his move towards more golf courses, ya da da da da. That makes me feel special. For a guy that lives 180 degrees from him, I can still be the one to help him.