It is not just distance, but time, and both of them are enormous. Add to that “location” in the galaxy, in that Earth is in one of the Milky Way’s “backwaters”, where things are rather dull. A little offshoot to a big spiral arm.
Periodically there will be an event like a supernova, that sterilizes a big area in the galaxy. So even if there was an advanced civilization, occupying hundreds of worlds, it could have been wiped out within seconds of their realizing a problem. Every form of life including microbes would be dead.
Let’s assume that no supernova is imminent in our little quadrant. I think the science supports the notion that a supernova in this area would be exceedingly rare. So, let’s likewise assume that we have millions of years left... in our little quadrant. There’s one, and we’re the only example we have.. So far.