The space and everything else in between

Recently I watched the movie Going the Distance with Justin Long and Drew Barrymore. It's a rom-com and it was quite nice. The protagonists meet up and decide they're going to have a six-week relationship since Drew's character is leaving New York to return to San Francisco where she lives and studies. At the end of the six weeks they decide that they want to continue the relationship and are going to try the whole long distance thing. Phone calls and text messages across time zones, a hilarious attempt at phone sex and a couple visits to the East and West coast try to keep this long distance relationship going. Being a rom-com something works out in the end, because if it didn't work out then it'll just be like real life and we don't go to the movies for reminders of our sucky lives.

Depending on who you speak to, the verdict on long distance relationships vary. I've had good and bad long distance relationships. I count ending things with my boyfriend every time I went home after uni one of the good relationships. When I got back to uni, we just picked up where we left off. A bad long distance relationship was the one where there were loads of email fights. The middle ground one was where there was lots of communication but sometimes there can be underlying issues there.

Pros of a long distance relationship:-

• Feel cool by telling people "No I'm not single, I'm in a long distance relationship."
• Not being overwhelmed by seeing your significant other all the time.
• When you meet up the sex  is awesome.
• Being with someone without all the drama of a normal relationship.

Cons of a long distance relationship:-

• You feel miserable because you don't have your significant other on demand.
• A telephone call, text or Skype is a poor substitute for the physical being.
• They can cheat on you and you'll never know. Who knows, you can be the woman/man on the side.

However, this is just my cynical view of long distance relationships. I suppose long distance relationships can work as a lot of people have been there, done that, still doing it! 

For a long distance relationship to work there are some things that should be taken into consideration:-

Trust is a major factor. You have to trust yourself and the other person on a completely different level. 

Be considerate. While in their heart, you're the centre of their world, realistically you're not.

Be mature. Only two mature people, can really survive a long distance relationship.

Stock up on Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry's, whatever your poison.

Don't fight in emails. Lack of body language and vocal tones can make words misleading.

For me, while I think i'm mature enough to handle one, love would have to be an underestimation of how I felt for the other person in order for me to be in any long distance relationship.