I have been thinking further about my bridge analogy, and there is more that can be added to it:

When friends argue, its like a storm has hit the bridge.  The bridge will suffer some damage depending upon the strength of the bridge and also depending upon the size of the storm.  Most importantly though, it can be fixed, and if both people work hard together it will be fixed sooner, and can even be made stronger in the process.

Secondly, you can have many bridges to many islands.... but with more bridges comes more time and maintenance.  Inevitably multiple bridges will not be as strong as a few good ones.

Anyway that's that.  I'm working from home today because I'm not feeling so hot, and twos hours of commuting is not appealing under that circumstance.  I am due a workout today and cannot decide what to do... if I do work out I know I will feel worse, but sometimes that's what is needed to get me through it faster.  Also I don't want to get lazy with it.