How Do (Did) You Manage Your Long Distance Relationship?

[Cry_Tuff 0]

I think it's safe to bet that a long distant relationship is something we share in common with one another. Since Pete cannot visit during the process, and it is impossible for me at the moment to fly to the UK, how have you managed the time spent apart from your special someone?

We have done instant messaging, talking with web cam and headset (skype or MSN Messenger), and even telephone and snail mail. But, it still gets to your head after a while...just longing to be with that person...and it gets frustrating, like you are coming home to a keyboard on a computer.

Anyone care to share how you and your loved one cope (coped) with being apart, do you or did you have something that helped make it easier? Do you or did you have a tradition or "ritual" that you adapted? How did or do you deal with being apart from your fiance/husband without going completely insane..lol?

[Jamie76 0]

I think we all pretty much do the same things you listed. It's not easy, but the rewards are worth it. As they say: "Good things come to those that wait."

[Mononoke28 137]

It's not easy at all. What I've discovered is that it feels very abstract and almost numb because of the distance. Then there are other days where you fall in love again and it's just wonderful. It takes a lot of time and patience.

[Jamie76 0]

It's not easy at all. What I've discovered is that it feels very abstract and almost numb because of the distance. Then there are other days where you fall in love again and it's just wonderful. It takes a lot of time and patience.

I can't say I've ever felt numb. More frustrated that I can't be with her more than anything. Any time I get a chance to talk to her is a blessing and I never take it for granted.

[wioombeen 0]

I feel lucky as Over the past 2 and 1/2 years I've been able to spend 9 months of it in the Philippines with my fiance. At the same time though, having had that time together, makes the time apart that more intense. And all the seemingly insane BS that these governments make us go though just to be with someone we love does indeed drive me crazy.

I don't think it is possible to endure the time without a fair amount of insanity. But yeah, all we have for any of us really, is the phone and or the internerd with a handy dandy web cam. We never use the phone since internet calls are free. and a fair amount fo SMS'ing never thought I would ever become proficient at texting with a cell phone haha.

My schedule now that summer is here goes like this. I work from 9:30 till about 7 or 9pm depending on how business is. I am currently Doing this 7 days a week. Then about 10pm(10 am her time) I meet my fiance online until about 3-ish in the morning. Sleep a few hours soak rinse and repeat. I figure I will sleep when she gets here haha. And it really does make these excruciating days refreshing my USCIS online profile ever ten seconds, to see if my status has changed, go by much faster. :):)

That time of the night though, when my yahoo screen jumps into life with a BUZZ, is the highlight of my entire day. We wait We wait and WE wait. But oh, I wouldn't trade if for the world.

Wioombeen

[Cassie 8]

I worked lots of overtime. It seriously helped to distract me. Between that, planning for the wedding, and packing up my apartment, i had little time to dwell on the distance or the craziness of the process.

we had a ritual of talking every night on the internet phone, that helped too.

[jundp 191]

I agree with everyone else. Phone, email, internet chat. Google talk and Skype are amazing.

Of course, we all have huge time differences (well most of us) so I often stay awake late to wake him in the morning,

and he stays awake late so he can talk to me in the afternoon. Yeah, we'll sleep when we're married and living in the same

house

I guess our only real ritual beyond the wake up calls is that we make sure, no matter what, that there's an email waiting for the other one when they wake in the morning.

Even if we've been arguing (not that we'd ever argue, right?) there's an email waiting.

I also spend time planning the wedding that has no date, with plans that will most likely change, but sure are fun to think about and very distracting. It's a concept I confess he just doesn't get, but that's ok...makes me happy

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You need to go on with your life, and maintain a good social network of family and friends so you're not spending every waking minute thinking about your loved one.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I managed ours with an iron fist that only a tyrant could love... Yeah Baby Yeah!!!

[Nessa 23]

I managed ours with an iron fist that only a tyrant could love... Yeah Baby Yeah!!!

[Fandango 1,440]

We both work an obscene amt of hours.

[Arazia 0]

We talked just about every day on Skype and spent additional time talking over IMs and such. We'd always make sure we talked about our plans for the next time we met. What we wanted to do, how much we wanted to see each other. It was hard, damn hard at times to get through when the biggest thing you want is a hug from someone thousands of miles away. I'm just thankful that time is over...

[KarenCee 3]

Funny...we were talking about this very thing last night. We commented to each other on how amazed we are that we made it through this long process. I guess it's something we just didn't focus on while we were apart. It was what it was...a process. We didn't have a choice in it so we just "did it". We talked everyday on the computer, or on the phone. Sometimes both. We were fortunate that we were able to fly back and forth every few months too. Our longest time of separation was five months at a time and that was hard for us. I've said this many times before - one of the things that got us through this was knowing it was a temporary thing, this distance. We knew there would be an end to all those heart wrenching goodbyes and the months of separation in between. We talked about everything BUT this process. We had to focus on life. Of course, occasionally we did discuss the visa when a new development arose or just to discuss the "when the visa is issued" kind of thing as far as plans being made. We took this time apart to talk and develop our communication skills with each other.

It IS temporary Corissa...that much I know. And when Pete arrives, all this waiting and the horrible emptiness you feel right now will fade.

[Jasman0717 9]

We spent a lot of time on Yahoo Messenger and the phone

[chri'stina 190]

He's been here almost 3 years now, but still I think about how hard it was to be separated. We saw each other only once after talking for 2 years, and then didn't see each other again for 11 months during the visa process.

It was very hard for me, I don't think there's any way to get around that really. It's just something you have to persevere through and try to keep the hope alive that it will be over eventually and you'll actually live together in the same country.

We talked every day unless one of us was on a trip, I had family around to help me get through the time waiting, and I did go out with friends. But to be honest those things did not distract me enough to be ok with the waiting. It was hard for me. I just wanted to see him. He felt so far away(well India is far away hehe). But the waiting was all worth it. Soon enough you will be looking back at what you went through and realize you made it. I know for some people it wasn't so dramatic maybe. But it was for me! It was too long from when I saw him to seeing him again.

Good luck!