I think a better example is neighbour 1 drives past your house once a day and neighbour 2 drives past 10 times a day on the main road several blocks further fro

I think a better example is neighbour 1 drives past your house once a day and neighbour 2 drives past 10 times a day on the main road several blocks further from your house. If you needed a lift somewhere (or some other reason to interact), you can either wait patiently for N1 to drive past or you can walk the several blocks to the main road, and then wait less time for N2.