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As we get older, and as online dating becomes more popular, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll have a long distance relationship of some sort. Wondering what to expect? I’ll tell you.
They suck.
With so many late night phone calls, nights apart, and sky-high credit card bills from airline companies, it can be hard to see the positives in dating someone for essentially five days out of the month. Looking on the bright side is key though, and I’ve outlined some of the absolute best things about being in a long distance relationship.
1. Less Shaving
This one goes without saying. Less time with your significant other means less time with your razor. When you live close to each other, your razor is your daily companion. When you’re single, you at least have to shave before a night with potential. When you’re in a long distance relationship, just cover up with some leggings and your boyfriend will never be the wiser.
2. The Longer Honeymoon Phase
You know that plateau you reach around three months together when the spiciest texts you send to each other are about the Chinese take-out you’re planning on ordering? Not in long distance. The first kiss after not seeing each other for days, weeks, or months is just as exciting as the first time you laid eyes on each other. You’re constantly wanting to surprise each other, look nice, go out on dates, and impress each other like it’s your first month of dating. When all your friends’ relationships begin to fizzle, feel confident that your relationship still has that initial spark.
3. More Time With Your Friends
One of the downfalls of new relationships is that as you spend more time with your partner, you spend less time with your friends. With the promise of your usual late-night Skype date, you’ll have time to spend with the one you’re dating without sacrificing the friends who were there before your new guy. BONUS: you’ll have a chance to brag about your significant other at happy hour AND have something new to tell your guy during your nightly call.
4. More Time For Yourself
The combination of working full-time, having roommates, and keeping up a new relationship typically leaves little time for you to catch a break. Most people need that quality time with themselves to be able to function. Without sacrificing time with your significant other, you can pencil in an hour of cooking, reading, or gym time before you Skype later that night. After all, shouldn’t your most healthy relationship be with yourself?
5. Awesome Rewards Programs
My most valued possession right now? My Southwest Airlines credit card. Pay one month’s rent on that sucker, and bam! Two free round-trip tickets. Could it get any better? (The answer is yes: you get two-for-one points on in-flight drink purchases). Put those miles to good use and travel to see each other for free!
6. Cute Little Surprises Mean The World
When seeing each other is so hard, the little things that remind you of each other — flower deliveries, letters sent via snail-mail, care packages — absolutely mean the world and make you fall in love all over again.
7. Promise Of Commitment
Not that long distance is any guarantee that things will work out, but when you’re long distance as a postgrad, you know you’re not messing around. It’s not easy to wine and dine your significant other. The amount of time, effort, and money you’re pouring into your relationship shows the other person just how serious you are about making it work. In this left-swipe, right-swipe culture, the hope of permanency is something precious to hold onto.
8. Every Second Counts
You will cherish every moment you have with the one you love. You will never take time together for granted. At the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, the best way to know you care about something is to be without it for a while. Your time together is valuable, and you’ll never waste one second of it.
Respond
Steph W.
Steph W. is a new Master's degree graduate with an intern's salary and six-figure taste. She realizes her expectations far exceed reality, so she spends her days pinning away Loubs she pretends are in her physical closet instead of her virtual one. Her hobbies include attempting to trapping her boyfriend into marriage before he finds out how insane she is and pretending that Black Box wine tastes as good as the kind she could afford when she was gainfully employed. Send her tips for getting out of student debt at recruitchairtsm@gmail.com
@therecruitchair
This didn’t get any better the 2nd time around.
I’m working on an article about the advantages of being in a long distance relationship. I don’t think it’s been done yet. I hope you guys are ready for it!
Can you please clear the confusion in your article as to whether shaving is optional in long distance relationships? The point wasn’t really emphasized in the last two articles.
Wasn’t this just a column?
Sure was. This wasn’t a rebuttal article either; literally the same topic and talking points.
9. It’s way easier to cheat on her.
At least give it some time before rehashing an old column. McGannon, you’re slipping.