I think why I'm moved to try and find something pithy to say about it is how it felt like I always wished family holiday gatherings would feel. Comfortable, loving, accepting of differences and at the same time genuinely interested in each other's lives. We are connected by strong threads but living numerous differences, and that's ok; in fact it's part, again, of the recursive connection. Time passing between meetings doesn't weaken the bond, even when (in my case) it's pretty egregious.
Thanks for being part of my chosen-family, y'all.