Family

"Fascinating article I read the other day which suggested that one of the most important sociological changes of the last century or so was the introduction of domestic central heating. The idea is that prior to that there would be one room in the house where there would be a fire and in the winter, and even for the most part at other times of year this would be the room where the family would gather and interact. Central heating meant for the first time that individual members of the family could spread themselves throughout the house and do their own thing in their own space. And this, according to the author of the article, was the beginning of the breakdown of the common extended nuclear family.  Interesting?"
 
From : Random thoughts of a Random man.

Never thought of that before ...