I moved 22 hours away to start a new job. A couple I met by chance took me in, and now they're like family to me.

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• I was excited to start a new job in a new city, but also a bit nervous.
• A chance meeting with a couple in a cable store turned into a years-long friendship.
• Their kindness helped me adjust to my new surroundings.

When thinking about family, whether they are distant relatives or close loved ones, we rarely would consider outsiders, let alone strangers. But that hasn't been my experience.

While it may sound like a lot of work, making...