Whether you're an artist in rural Maine or a single mom in the Illinois suburbs, you can reap some of the benefits that city dwellers accrue:
Spend time in instant message small talk, even with work contacts. Researchers are working to make online communication more like face-to-face. One experiment showed that doing "get to know you" chats before an online exercise improved cooperation.
Choose phone over e-mail. Getting to know people builds trust, improving motivation and communication. Since phone conversations convey tone of voice and laughter, they're better for building rapport than e-mail. So pick up the phone.
Change your routine. Diversity, novelty, and culture are part of the urban experience. So try a new ethnic restaurant, an art gallery, or a music show, or even just a different route home from work.
