Tips for Surviving a Long-Distance Relationship

When you're in the first stages of a relationship, having to drive a mile to see your significant other can seem like an eternity. But what if it does take an eternity to get there? Such as a 6-hour flight? Whether you meet someone who lives far away, or circumstances cause you to separate, here are some tips on managing long distance love.

Make friends with your phone, but don't get too close-The phone and the computer will become your two primary points of contact. But of course it is always better to be able to hear your loved-one's voice. However, you don't want to hear the voice of the collections agent when you can't afford to pay your bill. Plus, the people actually in your time zone might want to see you at some point. So, curb your time somewhat, or at least invest in VOIP. A good system is to schedule a time to talk at the same time each day and not let it dominate your schedule.

Find good airline deals-Of course, you are going to want to see each other in person once in a while. The best way to get to do that is to save on plane tickets. Plan your visits way in advance and buy your tickets when prices are low. And take advantage of all those frequent flier miles you're sure to rack up. Better yet, get an airline credit card to charge your tickets on and be rewarded with miles twice.

Send cards and letters-Phone calls and email are great modern conveniences, but they just don't have the special touch that a tangible gift holds. So brush up on that Shakespeare and send her a sonnet or send him that funny picture of a hippo you saw in Life magazine. Come on. Everyone loves to get mail. And write a letter to your mother while you're at it.

Take lots of pictures when you're together-Sure, it's sappy and lame, but who doesn't want a picture of that special someone to look at when he's not around. Plus, you can show your photos to people that insist on telling you your boyfriend or girlfriend doesn't exist since they haven't met.

Trust each other-This tip is the most important of all. Since you're not around, it's important that you believe your partner isn't bound to shack up with the maid, or the mailman or anyone else that crosses his path. And of course, expect her to have that same level of trust with you. Don't ask your partner what he is doing 24 hours a day, but do instill the fact that you trust him. That works better than tracing his phone calls any day.

Long-distance relationships take a lot of work, but then again, so do short-distance ones. Keep that love and trust going, and you should be just fine. Try to find a way to live in the same zip code at some point though, or at least get together for the wedding.